Indiana University Athletics
Midwest Hosts Championships
1/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - For the first time since joining the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Conference in 2001, the Indiana water polo program will play host to the conference championship. The CWPA Eastern Championship determines the conference champion and the institution that will receive the league automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Eastern Championship is set for Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, April 31.
The Hoosiers have placed in the top three of the CWPA Eastern Championship each of the last three seasons. In 2003, Indiana won its first conference title and earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Championships in La Jolla, Calif. In 2004, the Hoosiers defeated Brown in the third-place match at the Eastern Championship.
"Getting to host the conference championship is always an advantage," Indiana head coach Barry King said. "We have a top-flight facility and it is always nice to put that to use for the big events. I think we have a group that should compete for the conference championship. For a chance to host it and put that team in front of their home fans is definitely an advantage."
Midwest water polo will also be on display at the 2005 NCAA Championship. The University of Michigan will host the 2005 Championship in the Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Championships are set for May 13 through May 15.
"It is always nice to get to bring events like that out of the California base and show case it to a different population," King said. "The Midwest population is just as hungry to see high quality water polo as our California contemporaries. I think Michigan will do a great job hosting it. If we are fortunate enough to make it, I think it will be an advantage for us because we are familiar with the pool and the trip. The deer in the headlights effect of making the tournament will be reduced because of our familiarity."
The NCAA expanded the field the Championship field to eight for the 2005 campaign. The NCAA has sponsored a national champion in women's water polo since 2001 and started its championship field at four teams. The 2005 Championship will mark the first time in the four-year history of the event that it will be held outside the state of California. The 2001 and 2004 NCAA Championship were hosted by Stanford, while the 2002 Championship was hosted by USC and the 2003 competition by UC-San Diego.
The Western Water Polo Association, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, CWPA, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions earn automatic bids to the eight-team field. The other three spots are at-large choices made by the water polo selection committee.
The Hoosiers have placed in the top three of the CWPA Eastern Championship each of the last three seasons. In 2003, Indiana won its first conference title and earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Championships in La Jolla, Calif. In 2004, the Hoosiers defeated Brown in the third-place match at the Eastern Championship.
"Getting to host the conference championship is always an advantage," Indiana head coach Barry King said. "We have a top-flight facility and it is always nice to put that to use for the big events. I think we have a group that should compete for the conference championship. For a chance to host it and put that team in front of their home fans is definitely an advantage."
Midwest water polo will also be on display at the 2005 NCAA Championship. The University of Michigan will host the 2005 Championship in the Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Championships are set for May 13 through May 15.
"It is always nice to get to bring events like that out of the California base and show case it to a different population," King said. "The Midwest population is just as hungry to see high quality water polo as our California contemporaries. I think Michigan will do a great job hosting it. If we are fortunate enough to make it, I think it will be an advantage for us because we are familiar with the pool and the trip. The deer in the headlights effect of making the tournament will be reduced because of our familiarity."
The NCAA expanded the field the Championship field to eight for the 2005 campaign. The NCAA has sponsored a national champion in women's water polo since 2001 and started its championship field at four teams. The 2005 Championship will mark the first time in the four-year history of the event that it will be held outside the state of California. The 2001 and 2004 NCAA Championship were hosted by Stanford, while the 2002 Championship was hosted by USC and the 2003 competition by UC-San Diego.
The Western Water Polo Association, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, CWPA, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions earn automatic bids to the eight-team field. The other three spots are at-large choices made by the water polo selection committee.
Wednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12
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Tuesday, August 11