WHAT A RACKET UCLA FRESHMAN TRAVELS THE WORLD PLAYING TENNIS.

Byline: LEE BARNATHAN University Beat

Megan Bradley has won a round at Wimbledon and at the U.S. Open playing mixed doubles.

She's also played in Australia at the World Youth Cup in Perth. In fact, Bradley has been to every continent except Africa and Antarctica.

``That's the perk of tennis,'' the 19-year-old UCLA freshman said. ``I doubt there are too many kids my age that have been to so many places.''

Bradley goes everywhere because she's good. She was considered the top recruit in the country. Last fall, she won the first collegiate tournament she entered, beating teammate Sarah Walker in the final.

Her father, Phil, played professional baseball for Seattle, Philadelphia, Baltimore and the Chicago White Sox for eight seasons.

``She's got it all,'' UCLA coach Stella Sampras said before ticking off Bradley's abilities: physical power, huge forehand, big serve, strong mentality and a desire to do what it takes to win.

Since she arrived at UCLA, the questions always have been: What does she want to do and how long will she stay before turning pro?

``It's what she wants to do,'' Sampras said. ``She's enjoying college and wants to play here and have a chance to win a national championship in team (play), and take the singles and doubles titles.''

So far, Bradley is on track. UCLA (18-4) is seeded seventh in the NCAA round of 16 and will play USC on Thursday at Stanford. Bradley will also play in the singles, in which she is ranked third, and doubles, in which she is ranked fifth with Lauren Fisher.

Bradley hasn't committed to a pro career, although she's considered the possibility. She will return to UCLA next season after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery to clean out cartilage. She will be out four to six months but will be ready by spring.

After that?

``I change my mind a lot,'' she said. ``I know if I put in the hours, I can do it. It's a question of desire.''

--Throwing down the gauntlet: Contrary to anyone who thinks the Lexus Gauntlet is just a public-relations gimmick, check out various USC and UCLA Internet fan sites to read what people are saying about the gauntlet, which was created last fall as a trophy given to the school that beats its rival the most.

On WeAreSC.com, posters discuss the standings. Points have been given to the winning school in each of the 18 sports in which USC and UCLA compete against each other. USC leads UCLA 55-52 1/2. If USC beats UCLA in women's tennis Thursday, USC will win the trophy. If UCLA wins, the Bruins need to win only one of three remaining baseball games to take the gauntlet.

On USCFootball.com, there is one post: ``Most of you will become huge women's tennis fans this week, and it has nothing to do with Anna Kournikova. USC-UCLA Women's Tennis. Winner clinches the Gauntlet. Fight on!''

COLLEGE SCENE

UCLA

Several teams head north to compete in Pacific-10 Conference championships. The women's rowing team will go to Rancho Cordova to participate in the conference regatta Sunday. The Bruins return in their first year as a scholarship sport since the program was dropped at the end of the 1991 season. UCLA has two Pac-10 team championships (1990, 1991) and five event titles since the program began in 1974.

The day before, the rowing team will participate in the Pacific Coast Championships, also in Rancho Cordova. The Bruins face a powerful Pac-10 field with six NCAA Division I varsity eights ranked in the top 20 of the U.S. Rowing Collegiate Coaching Poll: Washington (1), California (7), USC (9), Stanford (12), Oregon State (16) and Washington State (17).

The men's and women's track teams will be at Washington State for the conference meet Saturday and Sunday.

USC

George Jenkins, 39, who revived the USC women's rowing team into a nationally competitive program in his nine years, announced his resignation to pursue a music career. He will step down at the end of the season in June. His brother, Stephan, is the lead singer of Third Eye Blind.

In September 1993, Jenkins took over a Trojans program that had fallen into disrepair. He built the team from no athletes on the roster to its present level of nearly 50 members, and from zero scholarships to the NCAA maximum of 20.

In 1998, he led USC to its first NCAA championship in the sport in the varsity fours division (the Trojans also won that event in the Pac-10s that year). In 2001, his varsity eight won the prestigious Jessop Whittier Cup by beating nine-time defending champion Washington at the San Diego Crew Classic, leading Troy to a No. 2 national ranking (the program's highest ever) and a first-ever varsity eight grand final appearance at the NCAAs (USC placed fourth). In his career, he coached an All-American (Ivelina Boteva) and eight All-Pac-10 choices.

The 2002 team is ranked ninth nationally, having already upset No. 7 Stanford.

CSUN 

Despite victories over nationally ranked Arizona, Fresno State and Pacific, and a 27-24 record, the softball team was left out of the 48-team NCAA playoffs. Coach Barbara Jordan said she believes the NCAA tried to include more teams across the nation at the expense of West Coast teams.

``You can't figure it out,'' Jordan said. ``We need to win more next year.''

Next year appears bright, too. Top hitters Christen Bedwell (.353, 5 HR, 31 RBI) and Sondra Milchiker (.328, 5 HR, 28 RBI) return, as does top pitcher Jenny Wheeler (16-7, 1.72 ERA). Jordan said her recruiting will focus on another pitcher and an outfielder. ...

Plenty of local men's soccer talent signed with the Matadors, including El Camino Real's Gianni Facio and Derek Hanks, Quartz Hill goalie Ian McClung, St. Francis' Daniel Paladini and Reseda's William Sims. There's also former Reseda star Jesse Servin, who transferred from Oregon State and has three years of eligibility remaining.

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

Five women's water polo seniors finished their careers by helping the team finish third in the nation for the second consecutive season. Leading the way were Lucy Windes and goalie Devon Courtney. Windes, who made the NCAA All-Tournament team, finished with 269 goals. Courtney, the Western Water Polo Association's Player of the Year, made 868 saves.

The other seniors, Caroline Guidi, Orla Stewart and Meredith Bellotti, contributed with goals and defense.

PEPPERDINE

Four-time Olympian and current Pepperdine head water polo coach Terry Schroeder will be inducted Saturday as an honor water polo player to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Schroeder is only the third American to receive the honor.

Schroeder coached the Waves to the 1997 national title. Before that, he was a four-time Olympian. His teams finished second to Yugoslavia at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games and placed fourth in 1992. He also was on the 1980 team that didn't go to Moscow.

Schroeder was inducted into the U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1998. ...

The men's and women's golf teams advanced to the NCAA Championships. The men begin Thursday at New Mexico. The women will begin Tuesday in Washington. ...

The men's tennis team advanced to the third round of the NCAAs at Texas A&M and will play Mississippi on Saturday.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color) UCLA freshman Megan Bradley is seeded third in singles and fifth in doubles for the NCAA individual championships.

Box:

COLLEGE SCENE (see text)