Women obtain first-ever national rank

By Alison Fleck

For the first time in Santa Clara history, the women's water polo team earned a national ranking.

After five seasons in Division I, the Broncos are ranked 20th in the College Water Polo Association coaches' poll.

Despite initial losses, the Broncos played their best games against two nationally-ranked teams, No. 14 University of California at Davis and No. 11 San Jose State.

"Usually a team doesn't get points for losing," Head Coach Keith Wilbur said. "But we played really well against two nationally ranked teams. I think the coaches who voted on the polls were really impressed with how much we've improved over the past couple of years."

The Broncos now have a 3-2 record after sweeping their triple-header in Santa Cruz this past weekend, garnering victories against Sonoma State, California State Monterey Bay and University of California at Santa Cruz. With only an hour between each match, the Broncos used their speed and endurance to push themselves to big victories.

"Our greatest strengths this year are our speed and our depth," Wilbur said. "We were fast last year but we're even faster now. And I can play six or seven off the bench, when most other teams play three or four."

The Broncos practice six days a week, including double-days on Mondays and Wednesdays. During these morning practices, the team does a weight-lifting circuit and a swim-set to increase speed and stamina. In the afternoons, Wilbur has his team do more swim-sets, drills and scrimmages to keep the girls in shape.

"I think the hardest aspect about water polo is all the conditioning you have to do in order to have enough endurance to play a full 28-minute game," junior utility Kathleen Hamm said. "I was a swimmer growing up, but water polo is swimming times five hundred. You never stop. You always have to be moving and ready for the next play."

Senior captain and utility Catherine Flynn has played water polo for eight years and feels what goes on under the water is the most difficult aspect of the game.

"There is another level beneath the surface of the water that people don't see or understand until they experience it themselves," Flynn said. "You're trying to swim and egg-beat, but people are pulling you, ripping your suit, punching you, kicking you, and grabbing you."

Not only are the games physically and mentally exhausting, but so too are the practices, as they use the same aggression that they would during competition. Practicing for three hours every day, each girl wears through at least six practice swim suits and three game suits a season.

"You have to simulate the game situation in practice or else you're going to be in for a shock once game time comes," Hamm said. "I got bit once which wasn't fun but I haven't had any near-drowning experiences yet."

Besides their fearless aggression, tactics and fundamentals come into play as well. Speed and endurance can only take you so far. Execution of passes is also key.

The newcomers have helped to not only make the team faster, but also contributed to the increase in confidence.

"We're in better shape this year and we're a lot faster," Flynn said. "We each have a lot of confidence in one another as players and everyone on our team loves water polo. Each girl wants to improve, work hard and will give everything to reach their goals for the season. This is why we'll continue to move up in ranking."

As the senior captain, Flynn is described by her coach as a hard-core water polo player. She transferred as a junior and quickly emerged as a leader with a great work ethic.

"Catherine's attitude is what a coach wants on a team," Wilbur said. "She puts school and water polo first and second and everything else comes later. That dedication is what you want in a captain."

Other influential players this year include juniors Alana Simpkins and Kathleen Hamm in the offense as well as sophomores Kristin Barnes and Katie Radvanyi in the defense.

Junior transfer Lindsey Bacolini, who has played water polo for 10 years, continues to contribute to the team her substantial knowledge and experience.

"She is our primary defender and a smart player," Wilbur said. "She knows how to do all the little things right and helps me coach from in the water since I can't get in and show the girls what I'm talking about."

Bacolini attributes the Bronco successes thus far to the defense.

"In the Davis game, it was very evident that we are a strong team," she said. "We held a 13th-ranked team to only three points. "My goal for the team is to crack those top three teams because no other team has done that before," Wilbur said. "And if you're able to crack those teams, you have a good chance of winning conference and advancing to the NCAA, which is another goal."

Santa Clara plays four matches this weekend. On the road Saturday they will challenge California State East Bay at 11a.m. and Sonoma State at 3 p.m. On Sunday the Broncos will be back at home to face UC Santa Cruz and Cal State Monterey Bay.

* Contact Alison Fleck at (408) 551-1918 or afleck@scu.edu