INSIDE COLLEGE ULTIMATE

UCLA Bruin Ladies Ultimate

Website:
www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/blu

E-mail Contacts:
Captains Pooja Shah, Emily Gauthier, & Holly Schwarz
Coaches Jamie Nuwer & Alex Korb

Number Player Name Year
#10 Emily Gauthier Junior
#5 Mandy Hafleigh Sophomore
#16 Lisa Vampola Sophomore
# Annie Banks Sophomore
#23 Annie Scaron Sophomore
#8 Pooja Shah Junior
#2 Laura Yee Sophomore
#22 Sierra Simmons Sophomore
#32 Anna Nazarov Sophomore
# Priya Keane Sophomore
#3 Erika Stageberg
# Sat-Avtar Khalsa Junior
# Cynthia Nguyen Sophomore
#28 Arwen Johnson Grad
#11 Jessie Amberg Grad
# Holly Schwarz Junior
#29 Jen Chen sophomore
# Sandra Reboucas
# Yvonne Leung
# Laura Dawson
# Rachel Brewer Sophomore
# Melis Tusiray Freshman
# Michelle Lee Sophomore
# Andi Coleman
# Ariel Brown
# Bridget Lamonica
# Cheryl Prideaux
# Kiana Pourjanfeshan
# Kendra Van Buren
# Lisa Loeb
#44 Cat Shirvell Grad
# Chloe Rivera
# Xiu Mei Chen Freshman
# Angela Yu
# Marissa Textor
# Amanda Lea
# Sandra Degive Junior
# Becky Lei
# Tracey Fong
# Kathryn Jacoby
# Angie Sanan
# Brittany DeNovellio
# Leslie Klein
# Marti Riparetti-Brown
# Devi Paulvannan
# Zoe Brown
# Tiffany Edwards
# Sophie Gilbert
# Jamie Winternitz
Last year was the first year for the UCLA Bruin Ladies Ultimate (BLU) team and it finished 3rd in the Southwest region, missing attending the UPA College Championships by two heartbreaking points to Claremont.

This year, the team is starting from where it left off. The team has recruited enough to have enough women to field a B team as well this year. While splitting into A and B squads for the first tournament of the year, the Santa Barbara Invitational, the two teams are integrated in name and spirit, and do not distinguish between A and B team players on its roster. The B team's name is Queen Midas, playing off the school's blue and gold colors and the myth of King Midas turning everything he touched to gold.

Despite losing Callahan finalist Jamie Nuwer (who is now moving into the role of coach), the team returns most of its core players, including 17 veterans. Jessie Amberg remains one of the most experienced players on the team, and her throws and composure are a vital part of the team's offense. Co-captains Holly Schwarz and Emily Gauthier also add skilled throws to BLU's offensive weaponry. However, UCLA's biggest asset is it's athleticism. Players like Pooja Shah and Sierra Simmons have the speed and athleticism to challenge any team defensively and offensively. Additonally, the Southwest Rookie of the Year, Anna Nazarov, will be continuing to contribute to her team.

UCLA benefits from two qualified coaches: Alex Korb, former UCLA Smaug and current open club Monster player, and Jamie Nuwer, former Stanford Superfly captain and current club Heroine player. These two leaders will continue to mold the enthusiasm and raw talent that UCLA showed in its first year into the finesse and skill that will take this team far.

Check out the team's self-reported information for the National Ultiamte Training Camp (NUTC).

Tournament Recaps:

  • At the Santa Barbara Invite, UCLA was second in its pool to Stanford, lost in semifinals to UC-Santa Cruz, and beat UC-Santa Barbara, UC-Davis, and UC-San Diego to take third place

Anna Nazarov throws by Christina Contreras (Stanford) at the Santa Barbara Invite

Anna Nazarov with the grab over Kara Johnson (Stanford)

Cat Shirvell throwing v. Mesa Schumacher (Stanford)

Laura Yee catches in front of Katie Berk (Stanford)
(Photos courtesy of Andrew Davis)

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