Upsets and unlikely heroes characterized the 2009 NCAA women’s water polo tournament as UCLA finished with its fifth consecutive national title. On paper, the No. 3 seed Bruins were not expected to win. Read more...

Photo: Tanya Gandy was one of three senior leaders in UCLA women’s water polo’s lineup during its last championship-winning season in 2009. (Daily Bruin file photo)

In the fourth quarter of the championship game against California, with a little less than five minutes to play, coach Brandon Brooks shouted across the pool to his team, “You have a lot of time.” With a fresh shot clock and leading by two goals, Brooks kept reassuring his team to protect the ball. Read more...

Photo: Junior attacker Kodi Hill said her team’s ability to stay calm in stressful situations was what helped it maintain a competitive defense throughout the MPSF tournament. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)

USC women’s water polo coach Jovan Vavic screamed a slew of inaudible words in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, as he had been during every intermission in Saturday’s game. Read more...

Photo: Attacker Rachel Fattal, UCLA’s leading scorer this season, proved to be just as much in the Bruins’ 9-5 win over the Trojans Saturday. The junior led UCLA with four goals. (Austin Yu/Daily Bruin senior staff)