Holiday Cup is here

The road to London and the 2012 Olympic Games heats up with the 11th Holiday Cup starting Wednesday.

Some of the best in the world of women’s water polo gear up for the world’s largest sporting event as Team USA plays host Wednesday through Sunday at the USA Water Polo National Training Center in Los Alamitos.

The U.S. team features goalie Tumua Anae, a former Corona del Mar High standout. Dan Klatt, the UC Irvine women’s water polo coach, is an assistant on Team USA’s coaching staff.

The Holiday Cup participants include the defending world champions from Greece, the reigning European champions from Italy, Pan American Games silver medalists from Canada, and Pan American Games gold medalist, Team USA, in a four-nation tourney over five days.

Matches start at 6:45 p.m. for the first three nights and at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The championship match is set for 6 p.m. Sunday.

For a full schedule or ticket information visit https://www.usawaterpolo.org.

The final day of competition is schedule to be webcast live through https://www.universalsports.com.

Following the conclusion of the Holiday Cup the FINA World League Prelims commence featuring Canada and Brazil. Team USA will meet Brazil and Canada on Monday with the Brazil match taking place at the USA Water Polo National Training Center and the Canada match at the Commerce Aquatics Center in Commerce.

The venue switches to Beckman High in Tustin on Feb. 21 for Team USA and Brazil.

The competition wraps on Feb. 22 when the U.S. team takes on Canada at the William Woollett Aquatics Complex in Irvine in conjunction with the CIF Southern Section girls’ water polo semifinals.

All matches not featuring the United States will be played at the USA Water Polo National Training Center.

— From staff reports