LOS ANGELES — Brenda Villa and Heather Petri will lead the U.S. women's water polo team, and Tony Azevedo and Ryan Bailey head the men's squad at the Beijing Olympics.

Those four, all three-time Olympians, were on the 13-player teams announced today.

Also named to the team is former Punahou and UCLA athlete Brandon Brooks.

The women will go into the games ranked No. 1 in the world. The United States took the silver in the 2000 Olympics and the bronze in 2004.

Natalie Golda is the only other player back from that 2004 team.

The women's roster includes 10 first-time Olympians, and the team's average age is around 24.

Petri, at 30 the oldest player on the women's roster, likes the team's blend of youth and experience, and thinks the younger players will really spark the team.

"They are really talented. I can't wait to see them playing," Petri said. "I love their energy; I feed off them."

Coach Guy Baker said the team "is young on paper, but not in experience," noting all the events they've competed in, including winning the World Championships last year.

The men's team is ranked ninth internationally and will try to win America's first Olympic medal in the grueling sport since 1988.

Along with Azevedo and Bailey, 2004 Olympians still on the team include Layne Beaubien, Brooks, Jeff Powers, Jesse Smith and Adam Wright.

Azevedo ranks as one of the world's best players, and he hopes he and his teammates can end the Americans' medal drought. The United States finished no higher than sixth in the last three Olympics.

"It's been very hard for us after the last medal in '88. We were close in 1992, finished fourth," he said. "As a kid, I went to the '96 Olympics as a ball boy, and I realized I wanted to represent my country and win a gold medal."

One reason the American men have lagged behind some other countries, he said, was because there are no pro leagues in the United States like there are in Europe.

"Finally, this year we had 10 or 11 guys in Europe," said the 26-year-old Azevedo.

His resume includes leading the scoring (19 goals) at the 2007 World Championships despite the fact the United States didn't make the medal round and finished ninth.

U.S. coach Terry Schroeder was a three-time captain of the men's team and two-time silver medalist in the 1980s. He said the team's recent trips to play some of the best teams in Europe has convinced him this team can be the surprise of the Beijing Olympics.

"I totally believe these guys can win a gold medal," he said. "We've opened a lot eyes (in Europe)."

The others on the men's team are Tim Hutten, Peter Hudnut, JW Krumpholz, Rick Merlo, Merrill Moses and Peter Varellas.

Rounding out the women's roster are Betsy Armstrong, Lauren Wenger, Patty Cardenas, Jessica Steffens, Elsie Windes, Alison Gregorka, Moriah van Norman, Kami Craig, Jamie Hipp and Brittany Hayes.