Feb. 9, 2009

STANFORD, Calif. - Following a 2008 season which saw it reach the national championship game for the first time in three years, the Stanford men's water polo team began reloading for the 2009 season as head coach John Vargas announced the signing of four-time All-CIF Central Coast Section selection Paul Rudolph to a national letter-of-intent.

"Paul has accomplished so much at the high school and club level, we are very fortunate to have him join our team," Vargas said. "Paul is an outstanding player, especially excelling on offense. I believe he will make an immediate impact on a veteran team".

A two-time CCS Player of the Year (2007-08), Rudolph was the key component to Sacred Heart Prep's consecutive CCS Division II titles in 2007 and 2008. Rudolph scored 108 goals as a junior, leading the Gators to the program's first title since 2003.

He was named to the All-CIF Central Coast Section First Team in each of his final three years of high school, and as a freshman in 2005 was named All-CIF honorable mention. At the club level, Rudolph has been a member of the Stanford Club Water Polo team for the past six years.

In 2009, Stanford will be coming off of a season in which it reached the national championship game and finished the season ranked second in the country. The Cardinal finished the year with a record of 25-6 and took second in the MPSF regular season with a 6-2 mark.