Preseason poll has women's water polo ranked No. 6
ORANGE, Calif. - With a strong group of returning players including All-American goalie Celia Huling, the Chapman University women's water polo team has been ranked No. 6 in the latest NCAA Division III preseason poll conducted by the Collegiate Water Polo Association.
The young Panthers squad enters the season with no returning seniors but will rely on the experience of their junior goalie Huling, who set a Chapman record in 2009 with the 315 saves in a single season. Of the 18 players on Chapman's roster, 11 are freshmen.
Sophomore 2-meter Stephanie Roy will provide defensive experience earning 63 steals last season. She also added 16 goals and 42 assists. On the offensive side of the pool, sophomores Briana O'Keefe and Arielle Worthington will help fuel the attack. The pair combined for 68 goals and 87 assists in 2009.
Last season the Panthers entered the year ranked No. 9 in the preseason polls and were seeded at No. 11 in the WWPA playoffs. They ended the season with a 9-22 record.
The Panthers will begin their season in the second annual Chapman Tournament which will be held Feb. 27-28 at the Zee Allred Aquatics Center.
by Lindsay Jones
Sports Information Intern