DEJA VU FOR PEPPERDINE WATER POLO TEAM? EXPERIENCE BOOSTS ROSTER FOR TITLE BID.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

MALIBU - Last time, the strategy produced a national championship.

The Pepperdine men's water polo team is expecting similar results this year after redshirting top older players from last year's young team, just as it did in 1996, the year before the Waves won their last national title.

``It was a decision we had to make that made it harder to go through last year, but we're hoping it pays off again,'' said coach Terry Schroeder.

Also as in 1997, Pepperdine's title run could have a local taste.

Royal High graduate Chris Richeson was just a freshman who saw limited action while other former Highlanders sparked the last championship. This time, Richeson is one of Pepperdine's most experienced players and is expected to contribute significantly. Being one of the team's few left-handed shooters adds to the 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior driver's value.

``We're certainly hoping he has one of his best seasons,'' Schroeder said. ``If he sticks with the conditioning and stays focused, he could be a key player for us. It's kind of up to him how far he goes. I don't know if he'll be a starter - we haven't decided our starters yet, it's too early - but he should be in there quite a bit.''

Richeson is the only product of water polo power Royal with the Waves' this year, but a former member of one of the area's other top high school programs has joined the mix.

Malibu's Morgan Matthies is one of 14 freshmen trying to earn a spot on the roster, which won't be finalized until the end of the week.

``So far, he's been one of the hardest working players out there,'' Schroeder said of the 6-foot-1, 170-pound driver. ``So far, I've been very impressed with his work ethic and with how he's played.''

Matthies, the son of Waves women's volleyball coach Nina Matthies, was the 1999 Frontier League MVP and a first team All-Southern Section selection.

Last year's Division III MVP Lloyd Masson, a goalkeeper who led La Canada to the Southern Section title, is another top freshman.

But an abundance of experience is what gives Pepperdine its confidence.

Chris Tilden, Robert Grayeli and Mike Peetz are all fifth-year seniors after being held out last season.

While those players redshirted, driver Greg Lonzo led last year's team that consisted almost entirely of underclassmen. Lonzo is coming off a sophomore season in which he led the nation in scoring with 60 points.

Senior Sean Hylton is back after scoring 25 goals, including a team- high eight two-point goals, last season.

Micheal Soltis is only a sophomore, but the experience the goalkeeper gained as a starter last year provided rapid improvement and has Schroeder expressing extreme confidence.

Without its older players last season, Pepperdine went 12-14 and finished eighth at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament.

A title this year requires overcoming defending national champion and MPSF rival UCLA, but perennial power Stanford is considering using Pepperdine's strategy and redshirting players in anticipation of next year.

``We kind of did the same thing in `96,'' Schroeder said. ``We redshirted some guys and didn't have the greatest season. They came back with that much more desire in '97. It paid off and we went on to win the national championship. They came together and had this intensity to win. With the guys we held out last year coming back and the experience those who played got, we're hoping it can happen again.''