Oct. 30, 2004

EDISON, N.J.-The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced that it has received an automatic bid to the 2005 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championships.

After initially turning the MAAC's petition down earlier this fall, the NCAA Division I Management Council approved the automatic bid early last week. The winner of the MAAC Championship will automatically receive the bid to the NCAA Water Polo Championship.

"I think this is a huge opportunity for our girls," Head coach Paige Cull said. "This has put a bigger meaning on our 2005 season and gives us the recognition for what we have worked so hard to do. Now that there is the possibility for a post-season we have something to strive harder for."

The MAAC conference began sponsoring water polo in 2003. Villanova is one of the founding members of the MAAC league. Other schools with similar student and academic structures joined as well. The league is composed of Wagner, Iona, Marist, St. Francis (NY) and Siena. Prior to the MAAC's sponsorship of the sport, the only possible conference to compete in on the east coast was the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA), currently comprised of 22 schools.

The Wildcats ended their 2004 season with a 12-18 overall record and finished third in the conference with a 3-2 record. Cull was named 2004 MAAC Water Polo Co-Coach of the Year, sharing the honor with Aaron Cavagnolo of Wagner.

The 2005 MAAC Championships will take place April 30-May 1 at Marist College. The NCAA finals will be hosted by the University of Michigan and take place May 14-15, 2005 at Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor. The University of Southern California defeated Loyola-Marymount for the 2004 national title.

For more information about the MAAC, log onto www.maacsports.com.