Holiday Cup

Information on the tournament that starts today in Los Alamitos and a look at the U.S. women’s water polo players, who are vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team:

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

* What: Women’s Holiday Cup

* When: Today-Sunday

* Where: USA Water Polo National Aquatic Center, on the Joint Forces Training Base, 11200 Lexington Dr., Los Alamitos.

* Website:

https://www.holidaycup.com

* Information: City of Los Alamitos, Recreation and Community Services Dept., (562) 430-1073.

SCHEDULE AND TICKETS

* Today’s schedule: 4:30 p.m. -- Kazakhstan vs. Netherlands; 5:45 -- Australia vs. Russia; 7 -- U.S. vs. Canada.

* Wednesday’s schedule: 6 p.m. -- Netherlands vs. Croatia; 7:15 -- Kazakhstan vs. Russia; 8:30 -- U.S. vs. Australia.

* Thursday’s schedule: 6 p.m. -- Kazakhstan vs. Canada; 7:15 -- Netherlands vs. Australia; 8:30 -- U.S. vs. Russia.

* Friday’s schedule: 6 p.m. -- Australia vs. Canada; 7:15 -- Netherlands vs. Russia; 8:30 -- U.S. vs. Kazakhstan.

* Saturday’s schedule: 4 p.m. -- Kazakhstan vs. Australia; 5:30 -- U.S. vs. Netherlands; 7 -- Russia vs. Canada.

* Sunday’s schedule: 4 p.m. -- fifth-place game; 5:30 -- third-place game; 7 -- championship game.

* Tickets: All sessions -- $32 for adults, $20 for students; individual sessions -- $10 for adults, $6 for students; finals only -- $12 for adults, $8 for students.

BASICS

Tournament features all six nations that will compete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, including the current world champion, Australia; 1999 World Cup champion the Netherlands; Pan American Games champion Canada; Asian champion Kazakhstan and the two entrants from the World Olympic Qualification tournament, Russia and the United States. A fireworks display will follow tonight’s 9 p.m. game.

WOMEN’S WATER POLO PLAYERS

Robin Beauregard, 21. Two-Meter Defense; 5-9, 180

Hometown: Huntington Beach.

Education: UCLA/Marina HS

Career highlights: First place, 1999 Canada Cup; second place, 1998 Holiday Cup, Los Alamitos; MVP of the 1997 North American Cup.

*

Ellen Estes, 21. Two-Meter Offense; 6-0, 163

Hometown: Novato.

Education: Stanford

Career highlights: First place, 1999 Canada Cup; second place, 1998 Holiday Cup, Los Alamitos; leading scorer for Stanford in 1998; two-time All-American.

*

Courtney Johnson, 26. Driver; 5-4, 130

Hometown: Salt Lake City.

Education: California

Career highlights: Third place, 1999 Holiday Cup, Los Alamitos; first place, 1999 Canada Cup; 1996 University of California Female Athlete of the Year.

*

Ericka Lorenz, 19. Driver; 5-11, 160

Hometown: San Diego.

Education: California

Career highlights: Second place, 2000 Thetis Cup, Athens; first place, 1998 Junior Pan American Games, Cuba

*

Heather Moody, 26. Two-Meter Defense; 6-1, 175

Hometown: Green River, Wyo.

Education: San Diego State

Career highlights: First place, 1999 Canada Cup; second place, 1998 Holiday Cup, Los Alamitos

*

Bernice Orwig, 23. Goalkeeper; 6-2, 175

Hometown: Anaheim.

Education: USC/Savanna HS

Career highlights: Second place, 2000 Thetis Cup, Athens; second place, 1999 Pan American Games, Winnipeg

*

Maureen O’Toole, 39. Playmaker; 5-11, 145

Hometown: Piedmont.

Education: Azusa Pacific

Career highlights: Second place, 2000 Thetis Cup, Athens; second place, 1999 Pan American Games, Winnipeg

*

Nicolie Payne, 23. Goalkeeper; 5-9, 150

Hometown: Cerritos.

Education: UCLA

Career highlights: Second place, 2000 Thetis Cup, Athens; first place, 1999 Canada Cup

*

Heather Petri, 22. Two-Meter Defense; 5-11, 165

Hometown: Orinda.

Education: California

Career highlights: Second place, 2000 Thetis Cup, Athens; second place, 1998 Collegiate Nationals, Los Angeles

*

Rachel Scott, 24. Two-Meter Defense; 5-11, 150

Hometown: Bainbridge Island, Wash.

Education: San Diego State

Career highlights: Second place, 2000 Thetis Cup, Athens; second place, 1999 Pan American Games, Winnipeg

*

Kathy Sheehy, 30. Two-Meter Offense; 5-10, 150

Hometown: San Diego.

Education: San Diego State

Career highlights: Second place, 2000 Thetis Cup, Athens; second place, 1999 Pan American Games, Winnipeg

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Coralie Simmons, 23. Attacker; 5-9, 140

Hometown: Hemet.

Education: UCLA

Career highlights: Second place, 2000 Thetis Cup, Athens; first place, 1999 Canada Cup

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Julie Swail, 27. Driver; 5-8, 145

Hometown: Placentia.

Education: UC San Diego/Valencia HS

Career highlights: Second place, 2000 Thetis Cup, Athens; second place, 1998 Holiday Cup, Los Alamitos

*

Brenda Villa, 20. Attacker; 5-4, 150

Hometown: Commerce.

Education: Stanford

Career highlights: Second place, 2000 Thetis Cup, Athens; first place, 1999 Canada Cup

*

Women’s water polo is finally getting its share of attention, and coupled with a chance to compete on their own turf, it gives the U.S. players the boost they need heading into the Olympic Games in September in Sydney. A1