Women come in at No. 8 in preseason rankings

ORANGE, Calif. - The Chapman University women's water polo team will begin the 2009 season playing host to the annual Chapman Tournament which debuts at the new Zee Allred Aquatics Center next weekend. The Panthers enter the season up one position from last year at No. 8 in a preseason poll conducted by the Collegiate Water Polo Association.

Chapman's 11-player roster consists primarily of newcomers, but the Panthers return some experience in goal with sophomore Celia Huling back in the cage. As a freshman Huling started 27 games and made 164 saves.

Senior 2-meter Daniella Beintema leads the Chapman defense having ranked fourth on the team with 53 steals in 2008. She also added 12 goals and 13 assists.

Chapman's arsenal also includes returning All-Academic award winners, Beintema and sophomores Hannah Thomas and Adrienne Lebsack. The trio combined for 22 goals and 68 steals in the 2008 season.     

The Panthers will kick off the four-game tournament against Grove City College on Saturday at 9:15 a.m. Chapman's most significant competition will come later that day as the Panthers face off against No. 1-ranked Pomona-Pitzer at 6 p.m.