A berth in the NCAA championships will be at stake this weekend when Chapman University plays host to its first Western Water Polo Association men’s tournament.

And that’s not the only attraction. The eight-school event, which runs Friday through Sunday, has some excellent former county stars.

Chapman (12-14) opens against top-seeded Loyola Marymount (16-7) and goalie Andy Stevens (Villa Park) on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Stevens was recently selected WWPA player of the year for the second consecutive season.

Air Force (17-12) and Coach Jeff Ehrlich, the former Villa Park coach, are seeded second. UC San Diego (12-130 is third, followed by Santa Clara (20-11) and UC Davis (13-15). Ehrlich was named the WWPA coach of the year while his freshman, Cruz Smithson (Servite), earned newcomer of the year.

UC Davis features former University standout Colin Hicks, who made the all-freshman team.

The tournament final is Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The winner earns an automatic bid to the NCAA championships, Dec. 5-6, at Princeton.

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