Murphy signs with UCLA

Richard Dunn

Newport Harbor High girls water polo standout Jenna Murphy, a

first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division I selection last season,

signed a national letter of intent Sunday with UCLA, her father,

Kevin, announced.

Murphy, a member of the U.S. national youth team, chose the Bruins

after being recruited by USC, Cal, UC Irvine, Loyola Marymount,

Arizona State, UC Davis and San Diego State.

“It has always been my dream to go there,” Murphy said. “Ever

since I was a little kid I’ve been going to their football games and

I have my own cheerleading outfit. My dad went there. He wasn’t

influencing me to go there. I’d always dreamed to go there.”

Murphy, also a standout swimmer, was selected to play for the U.S.

National Youth Team last May and played for Team USA during an

Australian tour. “We played a little tournament against New Zealand

and Australia,” said Murphy, who played well in the summer. “It was a

long spell, though. It was 3 1/2 weeks in Australia, then Junior

Olympics for a week and then Hawaii for a week.”

Murphy and Coach Bill Barnett’s Sailors will open the 2002-03

campaign Dec. 7 against Marina.