Sports News Southwest

San Diego, California - Coming off a non-conference doubleheader sweep over Chapman and No. 19 UC San Diego, the fifth-ranked San Diego State water polo team (24-3, 6-2 MPSF) will return to conference action this week as it hosts No. 4 University of Hawai’i in a key Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match Tuesday, April 8, at 3 p.m. (PDT).

A two-sport athlete, Elliott is in her second year on the SDSU water polo team after completing a four-year career with the Aztec women’s soccer team in the fall. She has seen action in 21 games this season, totaling six goals, nine assists and nine steals. The 2007 MPSF and ACWPC all-academic selection will graduate with a degree in child and family development with a minor in Spanish.

Fenske has established personal bests in every category this season. In her first year as a starter, Fenske has amassed 234 stops in 26 games played. Her 9.00 saves per game average ranks fourth in the MPSF and seventh in the nation. The Lompoc, Calif., native has notched 11 double-digit save games, including a career-high 16 blocks vs. Cal State Bakersfield (March 16). She also came up big in conference wins over Long Beach State and California with 13 and 14 stops, respectively. A scholar-athlete, Fenske will graduate with a degree in business management.

A two-time co-captain, Ur is rounding out an illustrious four-year career at San Diego State. Ur currently ranks second in the Aztec record book with 222 ejections drawn, and is tied for ninth with 58 career assists. This season, the Lompoc, Calif., native has dished out a team-leading 34 helpers, while racking up 16 goals and 31 steals. Ur has seen just as much success in the classroom as she has in the pool, earning both MPSF and ACWPC all-academic honors in each of her three years on The Mesa. Ur will be graduating with a degree in biology and has plans to attend medical school.

On Saturday, April 5, San Diego State picked up a pair of non-conference victories at Canyonview Pool on the UC San Diego campus. In the opener, SDSU defeated Division III affiliate Chapman University, 12-2. Jenna Schuster led nine Aztec scorers with four goals, while Kierstin Hill and Ashley Novack each earned their first tallies of the season.

The Scarlet and Black capped the day off with a narrow 6-5 triumph over UCSD to keep the Harper Cup for the seventh straight year. SDSU jumped out to a 4-1 lead at halftime, but the Tritons stormed back in the third period, scoring three times to pull within one (5-4). The two teams traded goals in the final frame as the Aztecs held on for the win. Anna Gonzales netted a hat trick to boost the offense, earning the game’s most valuable player honors, while Heather Fenske anchored the defensive effort with 11 saves.

Hawaii is coming off a recent 13-9 victory over No. 8 UC Irvine and brings a 14-5 overall record and a 7-2 mark in league action into Tuesday’s match-up. UH is led by junior Kelly Mason, who has totaled a team-leading 39 goals. Hawai’i is currently fourth, while the Aztecs sit in fifth place in the MPSF standings.

SDSU trails in its all-time series with UH by a 13-7 count, with the Rainbow Wahine winning the last five meetings. Last year Hawai’i pulled out a 10-9 overtime win in Honolulu before defeating the Aztecs 19-12 at the MPSF tournament in Tempe, Ariz.

The Aztecs will continue conference action this weekend as it heads to top-ranked UCLA on Saturday, April 12, before making its way to No. 15 Cal State Northridge (April 13). SDSU will close out the regular season at seventh-ranked Arizona State (April 19). San Diego State will host the 2008 MPSF championship, April 24-27, at the Aztec Aquaplex.

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