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The stakes ran high for the women’s rowing team at the Pac-10 Championships this weekend, with UCLA vying for a bid to the NCAAs. Competing against such national powerhouses as California and Washington State, the No. 12 Bruins finished with disappointing results at the meet in Rancho Cordova.

During the final event of the day, UCLA’s Varsity Eight boat finished in a disappointing last place with a time of 6 minutes, 43.75 seconds.

“We struggled through the whole piece,” coach Amy Fuller Kearney said.

Out in the far lane, the Bruins trailed from the beginning and never caught up to their contenders.

“We didn’t attack at the start,” Fuller Kearney said. “We were kind of out of it. Hopefully we get another chance at NCAAs to improve our start, and if not, then hopefully we go into next season having learned from this experience.”

Fuller Kearney attributed her team’s inconsistency to inexperience – the program is only in its fourth year as a varsity sport.

“There’s a whole other level you have to reach in finals, and that’s where our youth suffered,” Fuller Kearney said.

UCLA’s Second Varsity Eight boat was so dominant it looked like it was from an entirely different program. The boat held No. 1 positioning the entire first half, falling behind to Cal in the last 500 meters.

The 6:42.11 finish was a big win for UCLA, as it moved up from fifth to second place.

“We had some good races today and we had some bad races today,” Fuller Kearney said.

With a time of 7:45.07, the Varsity Four boat placed fifth, just ahead of Oregon State. UCLA’s Novice Eight boat did not qualify for the grand finals.

The top 12 teams will receive bids to the NCAA Championships, which will be held the last weekend of May. The results will be announced sometime on Tuesday.

Receiving a team bid would be a first for UCLA.

Now, as all the conference championships come to an end, the Bruins remain uncertain of their season’s fate. At practice Tuesday morning, the team will continue practicing as though preparing for NCAA Championships.