Men's water polo prepares for Berkeley

n Water polo: 49ers begin a busy weekend with a match against
UC Berkeley before hitting the road.

By Jeff Dusing
Daily Forty-Niner

The Long Beach State men's water polo team returns to Campus Pool Friday for its first game of the season against UC Berkeley and its third game in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

"We match very well against [Cal]," said 49er Head Coach Rick Azevedo. "It should be a good game."

The Beach (10-6, 2-0 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) does not have a winning record against Berkeley, however, with its excellent play this year the team is ready to win, Azevedo said.

Following Friday's game against the Bears, Long Beach State will travel to Santa Barbara Saturday for its fourth game of the season against UC Santa Barbara. LBSU has a 3-0 record against the Gauchos (6-12, 1-4) this year.

"We are going to play one game at a time," Azevedo said. "I feel very good about it. The team is playing well."

Team captain Chris Segesman will be coming back from injury after receiving five stitches above his eye after getting punched in a game last weekend. Segesman will be ready to play, Azevedo said.

Friday's game at Campus Pool will be the team's last on campus for the rest of the season. The 49ers will play UC Irvine at Belmont Plaza on Tuesday, Nov. 7.