Air Force Academy

Nov. 16, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -

After finishing the regular season with a 17-12 overall record and 10-4 mark in the WWPA, the 14th-ranked Air Force water polo team has earned the second seed in the 2009 Western Water Polo Association Championship, being held at Chapman University, Nov. 20-22. The winner of this weekend's championship earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship in Princeton, N.J., Dec. 5-6.

Sixth-ranked Loyola Marymount, which finished the 2009 regular season with a perfect 11-0 mark against conference opponents and 16-7 overall record, earned the top seed in the tournament. Meanwhile, 11th-ranked UC San Diego will be the third-seed at this year's conference championship, followed by 13th-ranked Santa Clara, 16th-ranked UC Davis, Redlands, Whittier and host Chapman.

Game No. 1 of the 2009 WWPA Championships will feature No. 2 Air Force taking on No. 7 Whittier at 10 a.m. Whittier finished the regular season with an 18-12 overall record and 11-7 mark against WWPA opponents. Game No. 2 will feature No. 3 UC San Diego taking on No. 6 Redlands. UC San Diego enters the tournament 12-13 overall and 8-5 against WWPA opponents, while Redlands, which captured the SCIAC Championship on Sunday, currently holds a 17-16 overall record and 12-5 ledger in the WWPA.

Game No. 3 features top-seeded LMU taking on host Chapman, who finished 12-14 overall and 5-6 against the WWPA. The final game on the opening day of competition is No. 4 Santa Clara versus No. 5 UC Davis. Santa Clara is 20-11 overall and 10-4 in the WWPA, while UCD is 13-15 overall and 8-7 in league play.

2009 WWPA Championship Seedings:
1. Loyola Marymount
2. Air Force Academy
3. UC San Diego
4. Santa Clara
5. UC Davis
6. Redlands
7. Whitter
8. Chapman

2009 WWPA CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday, November 20
Game 1 - 10:00 am - #2 Air Force vs. #7 Whittier
Game 2 - 11:45 am - #3 UC San Diego vs. #6 Redlands
Game 3 - 1:30 pm - #1 LMU vs. #8 Chapman
Game 4 - 3:15 pm - #4 Santa Clara vs. #5 UC Davis

Sunday, November 22
Game 9 - 9:00 am - Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 (7th Place)
Game 10 - 10:45 am - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 (5th Place)
Game 11 - 12:30 pm - Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8 (3rd Place)
Game 12 - 2:30 pm - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 (WWPA Championship)