PHOTO OPP and MEDIA AVAIL — Coach Derik Cheeseborough will be available for media interviews at Thursday’s regular practice from 6:30-9 p.m. at Clovis West High School Olympic Aquatics Complex. Please call 281-0500 or 284-7549 to set up interviews. The team also practices on Tuesdays.

HOMETOWN ANGLE: A list of member names and hometowns will be posted at www.FresnoStateNews.corn approximately Mar. 25 pending availability.

The Fresno State Women’s Bulldog Water Polo Club has earned a number one national poll ranking and now has its sights set on both a division and national championship.

The Collegiate Water Polo Association issued its weekly rankings yesterday showing the Fresno State club again at the top of its Women’s Collegiate Club Poll, a position it has held since March 2.

The rankings are published on Wednesdays at its web site, http://www.collegiatewaterpolo.org/.

The 18-member club is now seeking community support and sponsors for its post season plans: the Pacific Coast Division Championship on April 23 and 24 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

The division champions advance to the national tournament on May 5, 6 and 7 at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas

The Pacific Coast Division is the top-ranked division in the nation including two-time defending national champion, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, said five-year Bulldog veteran Natalie Klomp, who is a starting 2 meter set (like a center in basketball).

In addition to Fresno State and Cal Poly, other Pacific members are the University of Southern California, the University of California, Davis, Pepperdine University, the University of California, Los Angeles and CSU, Chico.

“This year the women’s team is a strong contender for the Pacific Coast Division Championship,” said Klomp, who also received all-conference honors last season for her excellent play and leadership in the pool.

The Bulldog’s recently defeated Cal Poly, the number one team in the nation by virtue of its national titles, at the Fresno State tournament in late February.

“Cal Poly has only lost a grand total of three games in the past two years,” said Coach Derik Cheeseborough. “The Bulldogs demonstrated they have what it takes to go all the way and we hope we can get the community to support us.”

Now the club is searching for sponsors to support its 2005 postseason efforts.

The team relies on sponsors to help defray travel expenses, league fees, equipment and pool costs. The Associated Students, Inc. provides insurance support. Women’s water polo at Fresno State is not an intercollegiate varsity sport.

Klomp said the club hopes to raise $9,500 in the next few weeks with a golf tournament on April 17 at River Bend Golf Course. The club seeks T-sponsors and foursomes to play in the tournament and is also looking for donations of prizes that may be raffled off at the event.

“With 130 to 160 participants anticipated for the golf tournament, any support that can help the Bulldogs get to Texas is appreciated,” Klomp said.

For more information about sponsoring the club, contact Klomp at (559) 284-7549 or email at nklomp@csufresno.edu.