THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
Wed., Feb. 19---MVolleyball---UCSD at Cal State Northridge---7:00 PM
Wed., Feb. 19---MTennis---UCSD at UC Riverside.---Noon

Thu., Feb. 20---Baseball---UCSD at Cal Poly Pomona---2:00 PM

Fri., Feb. 21---Softball---UCSD vs. Cal State East Bay (DH)---1:00 PM
Fri., Feb. 21---WTennis---UCSD vs. Whittier---2:00 PM
Fri., Feb. 21---Baseball---UCSD at Cal Poly Pomona---2:00 PM
Fri., Feb. 21---MTennis---UCSD vs. Whittier---2:00 PM
Fri., Feb. 21---WBasketball---UCSD vs. San Francisco State---5:30 PM
Fri., Feb. 21---MVolleyball---UCSD at Long Beach State---7:00 PM
Fri., Feb. 21---MBasketball---UCSD vs. San Francisco State---7:30 PM

Sat., Feb. 22---WWaterPolo---UCSD at UCI Invitational---TBA
Sat., Feb. 22---Softball---UCSD vs. Cal State East Bay (DH)---11:00 AM
Sat., Feb. 22---Track & Field---UCSD at Rossi Relays---12:00 PM
Sat., Feb. 22---MTennis---UCSD vs. Fresno Pacific---1:00 PM
Sat., Feb. 22---Baseball---UCSD vs. Cal Poly Pomona (DH)---2:00 PM
Sat., Feb. 22---WBasketball---UCSD vs. Sonoma State---5:30 PM
Sat., Feb. 22---MBasketball---UCSD vs. Sonoma State---7:30 PM

Sun., Feb. 23---WWaterPolo---UCSD at UCI Invitational---TBA
Sun., Feb. 23---MTennis---UCSD vs. Holy Names---10:00 AM

MEN'S CAGERS STAY IN THICK OF CCAA TOURNEY HUNT; FINAL HOME STAND LOOMS
Coach Eric Olen's Men's Basketball team, sitting 13-9 overall after splitting a weekend road trip, returns to RIMAC Arena for its final home series of the season, squaring off against San Francisco State (12-9/10-8) Friday and Sonoma State (5-7/4-14) Saturday…The Tritons sport a 9-9 conference record and find themselves seventh in the CCAA standings with just four games left…San Francisco State and Sonoma State are tied for fourth and tied for 10th  respectively on the league ladder…SFSU is one of three clubs just one game ahead of the Tritons, who will need to pass at least one to reach the six-team CCAA Championship Tournament…UCSD lost to both San Francisco and Sonoma on the road earlier in the season.

The Triton cagers saw a three-game win streak snapped at Cal State Monterey Bay last Friday, 70-57…The Otters outshot UCSD (49%-33%) and got 29 points from their bench…Senior guard James McCann continued to be a bright light for Olen's club, netting 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, led the team in rebounds with nine and  handed out three assists…Sophomore Hunter Walker's 23 points helped UCSD turn things around in a hurry with an 83-67 rout at Cal State East Bay the next night…Three others, Drew Dyer (17), Adam Klie (14) and McCann (13), also hit double figures in the scoring column with the latter adding six assists…The Tritons shot 46% and were plus-6 on the glass…For updated Men's Basketball information, click here.

POST-SEASON IMPLICATIONS HUGE AS TRITON WOMEN HOST SAN FRANCISCO STATE FRIDAY 
San Francisco State (14-10/10-8) and Sonoma State (4-18/3-15) come to town this weekend as the Women's Basketball team concludes the home portion of its 2013-14 campaign…Coming off a two-victory trip to Northern California, Coach Heidi VanDerveer's charges have catapulted back into CCAA tournament position but face a critical outing Friday against an SFSU outfit that is part of a three-way tie for fifth (top six make the conference tourney) with the Tritons…UCSD brings a 13-9 overall mark into that showdown and is 10-8 in league play.

In a rare Thursday night conference match-up, UCSD outlasted host Cal State Monterey Bay, 56-48, breaking a four-game losing streak…Junior point guard Miranda Seto scored 14 of her 16 points in the first half and senior Erin Dautremont posted a double double (13 pts./10 rebounds) as UCSD took control with an 8-0 run late in the second half…The Tritons made it a NorCal sweep Saturday, brushing aside Cal State East Bay, 59-50…An 18-18 contest turned on a 9-0 UCSD run midway through the first half…VanDerveer's squad bumped the lead up to 15 with 13:41 to go in regulation and survived the Pioneers' one late run…Senior Megan Perry posted a team high 14 points and freshman Cassie MacLeod chipped in with 12…MacLeod's eight rebounds helped UCSD win the battle of the boards by 11…Click here to get the latest on Women's Basketball.

SIX IN A ROW FOR MEN, WOMEN AT PCSC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Coaches Corrie Falcon and Matt Macedo will have their Swimming & Diving teams clearly focused on the 2014 NCAA Division II Championships after romping to their sixth straight Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference titles in both the men's and women's divisions last week in La Mirada…The ninth-ranked men, riding the three individual wins of Male Swimmer of the Meet Paul Li, rang up 1,604 pts. to out-distance runner-up Concordia by more than 300 points while the fifth-ranked women's total of 1,564 pts.  put more than 400 between themselves and second place Cal State East Bay.

The aforementioned Li, just a sophomore set a school record in winning the 500 freestyle in 4:25.48 and also captured the 200 freestyle (1:39.44) and 400 individual medley (3:54.52)…Other multiple winners on the men's side were senior diver Luke Calkins (1m. & 3m.), senior Nick Korth (50 free/20.20 & 100 breaststroke/54.64) and sophomore Alex Moshensky (100/51.33 & 200/1:49.32 backstrokes)…Moshensky clocked 1:47.50 in the prelims of the 200 back, erasing the longest standing  UCSD record on the books, set by 13-time NCAA D-III champion Travis Miller in 1994…Senior Reid McCallum claimed the 100 freestyle crown, touching in 45.32 and sophomore Kyle Nadler swam a lifetime best  9:13.52 beating the field in the 1,000 freestyle…Meanwhile, freshman Zach Yong was the silver medalist behind Li in the 400 IM but blazed to a new UCSD standard of 3:53.65 in his morning heat.

In the women's division, UCSD senior Anji Shakya, freshman Sierra Gage and senior Erika Rodman were the Nos. 2-3-4 point scorers at the meet…Shakya completed a career sweep in the 200 (1:49.79) and 500 (4:48.56) freestyles…Gage went the distance in 16:59.31 to win the 1,650 freestyle with Rodman second while Rodman was timed in 10:10.83, edging out Gage in the 1,000 freestyle…Sophomores Colleen Daley (23.59) and Naomi Thomas (2:03.01) took blue ribbons in the 50 freestyle and 200 butterfly respectively and sophomore Allyson Cohen rounded out the female winners by taking the 3m. diving competition…Click here to get all the news on Swimming & Diving.

Watch Wednesday's post-meet interview with senior Erika Rodman.
Watch Thursday's post-meet interview with sophomore Paul Li.
Watch Thursday's post-meet interview with senior Anji Shakya.

       

SOFTBALL CONTINUES WINNING WAYS; CAL STATE EAST BAY HERE NEXT
After opening CCAA play at 3-1 last weekend, Coach Patti Gerckens' No. 21 Softball team continues its season-opening block of home games, hosting Cal State East Bay (3-3/3-1) for Friday and Saturday doubleheaders…UCSD and Cal State East Bay are part of a four-team logjam stop the CCAA ladder after one week of play, sharing that perch with defending champion Humboldt State and Cal State Monterey Bay…UCSD is 8-2 overall.

Last Friday, the Tritons split a Friday doubleheader with Chico State and then swept the second pair the next afternoon…Sophomore lefty Alexis Edwards tossed a four-hit, 2-0, shutout at the Wildcats in game one of the series…UCSD got two unearned runs in the first inning that proved to be the difference…Chico rallied from one down to win the nightcap, 2-1, as the Tritons were unable to capitalize on two late-inning offensive opportunities.

Edwards notched her fourth win without a loss in a first game, 4-0, win Saturday as triples by Callie Grant and Taylor Sepulveda and a two-run double by McKenna Clewett ignited a four-run sixth inning outburst…Down, 4-0, in the series finale, the Tritons erupted for six runs in the third inning and finished with 11 hits and a 10-4 verdict…Grant had two more hits, giving her five for the weekend, and scored two runs…For more information on Softball, click here.

Watch Coach Patti Gerckens' Friday post-game interview.
Watch sophomore Callie Grant's Saturday post-game interview.
Watch Coach Patti Gerckens' Saturday post-game interview.

BASEBALL GOES 2-2 WITH NO. 12 CHICO; CCAA-LEADING CAL POLY POMONA ON DECK
Coach Eric Newman's No. 39 Baseball team opened its CCAA schedule at home last week by splitting a four-game series with 12th-ranked Chico State, the team CCAA coaches tabbed as the favorite to win the league crown…And now, things might get even tougher as the Tritons play undefeated Cal Poly Pomona (10-0/4-0) in a four-game set starting with single games Thursday and Friday at Pomona followed by a Saturday doubleheader in La Jolla…UCSD is 5-4 overall.

Newman's club came out firing on all cylinders in winning the opening game of the Chico State series, 8-1…Sophomore right hander Justin Donatella was dominating in a six-inning, one-hit performance…Sophomore third baseman Troy Cruz rapped two of the Tritons' 12 hits, scored twice and drove in three…Things were not quite that rosy Saturday as the Wildcats swept a doubleheader, allowing UCSD just three runs and 11 hits in the two games…With Cruz on the mound Sunday, UCSD bounced back with a 7-3 triumph…Newcomers Michael Mann and Brandon Shirley had two hits each, the former scoring twice and the latter plating a pair…The Tritons were beneficiaries as Wildcat pitchers issued seven walks and hit three batters…Keep current on Baseball by clicking here.

Watch Coach Eric Newman's Sunday post-game interview.
Watch Sophomore Troy Cruz's Sunday post-game interview.
Watch Coach Eric Newman's Saturday post-game interview.
Watch Justin Donatella and Brett Levy Friday post-game interview.
Watch Eric Newman's Friday post-game interivew.

POLO RACKS UP THREE WINS BACK EAST; UCI TOURNEY NEXT IN LINE
Shrugging off the perils of winter travel in the Midwest and Eastern parts of the country, Coach Brad Kreutzkamp's Women's Water Polo team won three-of-four games at last weekend's Bison Invitational, hosted by Bucknell in central Pennsylvania…The results leave the Tritons 9-3 on the year heading into this weekend's UCI Invitational.

Dropping to No. 13 nationally, after splitting four games at the previous week's Triton Invitational, UCSD was forced to cancel a scheduled Friday night clash with Bucknell after weather-induced air traffic snags left the team stranded in Chicago Thursday night and required a 10-hr. bus ride to stay on schedule for the Saturday-Sunday tourney…The Tritons showed no ill effects in swamping No. 20 Michigan, 13-7, Saturday morning…Senior Sarah Lizotte scored three of her team high four goals in the first three minutes of the game…Soph Julia Kirkland chipped in with a three-goal hat trick of her own and goalie Courtney Miller repelled nine Wolverine shots…Up, 7-6, after three periods of game two, UCSD was unable to hold off  No. 8 Princeton in the final eight minutes, falling, 9-8…All-time leading goal scorer Lizotte rang up another three in that one...Sunday morning, junior Jolene Giuliana netted three scores as the Tritons throttled George Washington, 14-7…Miller made 15 stops and four players scored two goals apiece allowing UCSD to squeak by Wagner, 10-9, in the Tritons' final tournament outing…Click here to stay up-to-date on Women's Water Polo.

M-TENNIS GETS 2-OF-3 IN ISLANDS; UC RIVERSIDE, THREE HOME MATCHES THIS WEEK
Coming off a grueling, four-match week that included a trip to Hawaii, Coach Timmer Willing's No. 14 Men's Tennis squad keeps the schedule packed this week, going on the road to UC Riverside Wednesday before returning home for a threesome this weekend vs. Whittier, Fresno Pacific and Holy Names.

UCSD kicked things off last week with an impressive, 7-2, waltz at Point Loma, losing  just once in both singles and doubles…Junior Mark Meyer remained undefeated, sailing through No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles (w/ Rajeev Herekar) without dropping a game.

The Hawaiian segment of the week got off to a resounding start as the Tritons bulldozed Hawaii-Hilo, 8-1, sweeping doubles before going 5-1 in singles…The Herekar-Meyer combo was again potent Saturday taking No. 3 doubles and securing a pair of singles points as UCSD stopped 18th-ranked BYU-Hawaii, 6-3…The week ended on a down note as No. 5 Hawaii Pacific proved more than the Tritons could handle, blanking the visitors, 9-0, and sending them home at 4-4 in dual meet competition…For all the latest on Men's Tennis, click here.

WOMEN'S TENNIS HOME FOR HOME MATCHES VS. WHITTIER, FRESNO PACIFIC
On the heels of a rugged, three-match trip to Hawaii, Coach Liz LaPlante's 17th-ranked Women's Tennis team returns home to what should be softer competition this week, hosting Whittier, Thursday, and Fresno Pacific Saturday…LaPlante's squad brings a 3-4 dual meet ledger into this week's action.

Using victories in 5-of-6 singles matches, UCSD opened last week with a 6-3 home triumph over Point Loma with Kyra Scott and Paula Chou garnering wins at Nos. 1-2 singles and pairing to win No. 1 doubles…It was then off to Hawaii where the Tritons opened by pounding Hawaii Hilo, 9-0, Friday without dropping a set in singles and surrendering just seven points in the three doubles matches…No. 2-ranked BYU-Hawaii was not so accommodating Saturday, overwhelming UCSD, 8-1, with the No. 3 doubles duo of Tara Vanooteghem and Laura Wilke nabbing the lone point…Ace Scott at No. 1and Lisa Asai at No. 6 registered singles points but fourth-ranked Hawaii Pacific dealt the Tritons a second straight loss, 7-2, Sunday…For the latest in Women's Tennis news, click here.

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL ON ROAD AT NORTHRIDGE, LONG BEACH STATE
It doesn't get any easier this week for a Men's Volleyball team struggling to find the win column…After absorbing a pair of home defeats to top five opponents last week, UCSD travels to No. 13 Cal State Northridge (3-7) Thursday, then heads to Long Beach State (7-4) to face the No. 6 49ers Friday night… …On Friday, fifth-ranked USC whitewashed a game Triton squad led by senior Mike Brunsting with 12 kills…Net play was again a nemesis for UCSD as the Trojans won the blocking numbers, 13.5 to 1.

Brunsting delivered 17 more kills, hitting a blistering .483 Saturday night vs. No. 3 Pepperdine but despite out-hitting the Waves (.356-.345), UCSD was unable to prevent a second, 3-0, decision…The Tritons had several game point opportunities before falling, 32-30, in the first set and pushed Pepperdine to the brink in the 27-25 third set as well…Junior setter Garrett Dempsey dished out 38 assists and libero Elliott Shaw collected 28 digs…For up-to-date Men's Volleyball news, click here.

Watch senior Mike Brunsting's Saturday night post-game interview.

TRACK & FIELD SET FOR 2014 DEBUT SATURDAY
Coaches Tony Salero and Darcy Ahner send their Track & Field teams out for their 2014 debuts this Saturday at Claremont's Rossi Relays…UCSD will send a full squad to the meet which will include traditional field event competition and a handful of individual running events in addition to the non-standard relays the meet is known for…Saturday will be the first opportunity for athletes to post NCAA qualifying marks…Click here for more Track & Field information.

NEWS & NOTES
This week's edition of Triton Talk, UCSD's online radio show hosted by Craig Elsten, is scheduled to feature interviews with head coaches Eric Newman (baseball), Patti Gerckens (softball) and Eric Olen (men's basketball) as well as freshman Sierra Gage from the women's swimming team…The show will be posted Wednesday afternoon at ucsdtritons.com.

For the latest in Triton athletic gear, make sure to visit ucsdtritonsgear.com…Run by UCSD Athletics' online partner Advanced-Online, ucsdtritonsgear.com provides a web-based, on-demand option for Triton Athletic apparel and merchandise...Fans have access to over 600 products which can be produced and shipped in 24 hours...Click here to check it out.

Coach Jim Ragan's Golf team swings back into action next Monday at the annual Coyote Classic, hosted by Cal State San Bernardino at Arrowhead Country Club…Click here for more on Golf.

Nominations are being accepted for the 2014 class of the UC San Diego Athletic Hall of Fame…Click here to submit your nomination and check out the members of the inaugural class.

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