Girls’ Water Polo: Sea Kings’ Storm commits to UCLA

Corona del Mar High junior girls’ water polo center Bridgett Storm has verbally committed to UCLA, she said Friday.

Storm was a first-team All-Pacific Coast League selection for CdM (23-7) this past winter, helping the Sea Kings win another PCL title and advance to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinals. She had 28 goals, seven assists and eight steals while splitting time at two meters with graduate Kaybree Albright.

Storm, a member of the U.S. women’s youth national team, said she grew up liking UCLA. That’s partly because CdM graduate Alex Musselman plays water polo there. Storm is best friends with Musselman’s younger sister, Maddie, who has left CdM in March to train full-time with the U.S. senior national team.

“They have the school spirit,” Storm said of the Bruins, comparing the UCLA-USC rivalry to CdM’s with Newport Harbor. “UCLA is very school spirit-based, and I really like that.”

Storm will be a key piece for CdM Coach Kevin Ricks next year.

— Matt Szabo