Jan. 25, 2008

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. - The University of Maryland women's water polo team is starting off the season better than ever.

The Terps are ranked fourth in the 2008 Women's CWPA Preseason Poll, the team's highest preseason ranking in its existence. The Terps, about to enter their fifth season as a varsity sport, finished the 2007 season sixth in the final CWPA poll after posting a 4-2 Southern Division record.

The team also received one vote in the 2008 National Collegiate Women's Preseason Poll, one of only 23 teams in the country to receive recognition. The polls were released Wednesday.

Maryland opens the 2008 season on February 9 at the Triton Invitational in San Diego.

The tournament features some of the top teams in the country as 11 of the 16 participants are ranked in the preseason top 20.

Maryland opens the tournament against No. 6 San Diego State, the highest-ranked team in the field. Other top-10 teams in the tournament include No. 8 UC Davis, No. 9 UC Irvine and No. 10 Hartwick College.