(courtesy of the CWPA)
Queens of the Pool! -Women's Water Polo win Club National Championship
5/1/2022 12:00:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
MIDDLEBURY, VT - Even in the pool, Banana Slugs have no known predators.
UC Santa Cruz emerged as the 2022 CWPA Division III Club National Champion after going 3-0 at the National Tournament last week.
The top seeded Banana Slugs first defeated Carleton 24-4 and hosts Middlebury 18-2 before dispatching Washington University in St. Louis 8-6 in the Final. It is the first Club National Championship for the women.
"Without a coach, it was challenging to have the structure of a traditional water polo team," explained senior Sophia Sussman "but we pushed each other to reach our greatest potential as a team in our own way. As each game in nationals passed by, I realized we could really win this whole thing, and we did. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end my senior year of water polo, and I couldn't ask for a better group to share this experience with."
Senior goalie Shelby Dinh was named Tournament MVP after making eight saves in the final. Dinh, Emma Laszlo and Selma Malkic made the All Tournament First Team.
"I never would have imagined we would even attend nationals because it took us so long to get practice time this season," Sussman said. "All the hard work really paid off, and I am so proud of how we have grown together as a team and as friends."
FULL STORY FROM CWPA
UC Santa Cruz emerged as the 2022 CWPA Division III Club National Champion after going 3-0 at the National Tournament last week.
The top seeded Banana Slugs first defeated Carleton 24-4 and hosts Middlebury 18-2 before dispatching Washington University in St. Louis 8-6 in the Final. It is the first Club National Championship for the women.
"Without a coach, it was challenging to have the structure of a traditional water polo team," explained senior Sophia Sussman "but we pushed each other to reach our greatest potential as a team in our own way. As each game in nationals passed by, I realized we could really win this whole thing, and we did. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end my senior year of water polo, and I couldn't ask for a better group to share this experience with."
Senior goalie Shelby Dinh was named Tournament MVP after making eight saves in the final. Dinh, Emma Laszlo and Selma Malkic made the All Tournament First Team.
"I never would have imagined we would even attend nationals because it took us so long to get practice time this season," Sussman said. "All the hard work really paid off, and I am so proud of how we have grown together as a team and as friends."
 Sussman prepares to pass in the semifinals against Middlebury (photo courtesy of the WWPA). |
FULL STORY FROM CWPA
