Four former UCLA water polo players either playing for or coaching USA Water Polo Senior National Teams are amidst the 2011 FINA World Championships.

On the men's side, UCLA's Adam Wright has helped the USA Men's National Team advance to the quarterfinal round of the FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China. Wright currently serves as the UCLA men's water polo head coach and is among the most veteran players on the USA National Team. Team USA lost its first two preliminary matches, but rebounded with a 20-3 win over South Africa and a critical 17-4 victory against Canada on Sunday.

The men's team will face Hungary in a quarterfinal match on Tuesday (2 p.m. local time, 11 p.m. PST Monday) in a rematch of the gold medal final from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

On the women's side, UCLA's Kelly Rulon and Courtney Mathewson are competing for head coach Adam Krikorian, who played at UCLA from 1992-95 before serving as head coach of the men's and women's programs until May 2008.

The women's team lost to Russia, 9-7, in the quarterfinal round on Monday, halting Team USA's quest for a three-peat at the FINA World Championships. Leading 6-2 early in the third quarter, Team USA was blitzed by five straight Russian goals to give up a lead in which the United States would not regain. Team USA moves into the fifth through eighth place bracket, slated to face the loser of a Canada-China tilt on Wednesday (12:10 p.m. local time, 9:10 p.m. PST Tuesday).

The loss to Russia brings an end to a streak of five straight World Championships in which the United States played for a medal. Included in that run were three gold medals and one silver medal. It also signals the end of title in every major FINA Championship over the last two years - one World Championship gold medal, one World Cup gold medal, and three FINA World League Super Final gold medals.

Six former UCLA women's water polo players helped lead the USA Women's National Team to the gold medal last week at the 2010 FINA World League Super Final in La Jolla, Calif. Team USA outlasted Australia, 12-11, in a shootout to claim its fifth gold medal in the seven-year history of the event.

Kelly Rulon scored twice and Tanya Gandy added one goal to help Team USA secure the gold medal. Other former UCLA standouts participating with the U.S. National Team include Anne Belden, Emily Feher, Jillian Kraus and Courtney Mathewson. Team USA is led by former UCLA women's water polo head coach Adam Krikorian, who currently serve as Associate Head Coach for the Bruins' men's water polo team.

Gandy's recent success on the U.S. National Team was recently featured in an article (available here) published in the North County Times newspaper.

Team USA returns to action at the FINA World Cup in Christchurch, New Zealand from Aug. 17-22.

The No. 1-ranked UCLA women's water polo team begins its quest for an unprecedented sixth consecutive NCAA championship today. Seeded No. 3 in the eight-team NCAA Tournament, the Bruins open play Friday against No. 6-seed Loyola Marymount at San Diego State. Game time is slated for 2:15 p.m.

To read Tom Krasovic's feature article about the UCLA women's water polo team and their recent surge (winning the 2010 MPSF Tournament title), click here.

Your UCLA Women's Water Polo team, seeded No. 5, is hosting the 2010 MPSF Championship this weekend Friday, April 30th - Sunday, May 2 at UCLA Dirks Pool, Spieker Aquatics Center.

The Bruins face fourth-seeded Hawaii on Friday at 3:00 p.m.

Grandstand General Admission Adult 3-Day Packages are just $35 (save 23% off single-session price!).

Single-Session General Admission adult tickets are $15 and are available for purchase at the game.

You can order Grandstand General Admission Adult 3-Day Packages online, call (310) UCLA-WIN or purchase at the event on April 30th. To order them online, click here.

For 2010 Women's Water Polo Championship details, click here.

The Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame has announced the 14th class of Hall of Fame inductees and four Bruin alums have been named to the honoree list - student-athletes Jordan Farmar (basketball), Ben Feilhaber (soccer), Louise Lieberman (soccer) and Jillian Kraus (water polo)

In addition, Joel Meyers, who was UCLA's football and basketball radio play-by-play announcer for six years, will also be inducted.

The five men and women will be honored Sunday, January 30th at a dinner and induction ceremony.

For information on the event, contact Vicki Wolf (310-553-6325) or vvflow@roadrunner.com