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CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM | 2021 AWARDS | 2021 STANDINGS | 2021 RESULTS
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - The 2021 collegiate water polo season was unique, and it was one that came down to the final day of play to decide this year's field of the 2021 Golden Coast Conference Women's Championships. In the end, three teams tied to share the regular season title, while three more tied for the fourth spot in this year's tournament.
In the end, Fresno State, San Diego State and Pacific all earned a share of this year's regular season crown and claimed seeds one, two and three, respectively. As for the fourth seed, California Baptist secured that spot thanks in part to a 16-9 win over Azusa Pacific, that gave them an edge in the final tiebreaker.
2021 GCC CHAMPIONSHIPS
GCC Women's Championships will be held at the University of the Pacific's Chris Kjeldsen Pool. The Championships will take on a different look this season than in year's past. This year the tournament will feature the top four teams from the regular season (previous seasons all eight teams qualified). The semifinals will take place on Friday, Apr. 23 and will feature No. 2 San Diego State taking on No. 3 Pacific at 12 pm and No. 1 Fresno State taking on No. 4 California Baptist at 3 pm. The title game will be played Saturday, Apr. 24 at 12 pm. The winner earns the automatic bid to the 2021 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championships. NOTE (as of April 19, 2021): Following University of the Pacific policies, tickets will not be sold for this year's championships. Limited number of spectators will be allowed to attend the championships through team pass lists only.
SEMIFINAL No. 1: No. 2 San Diego State vs. No. 3 Pacific
Date: Friday, Apr. 23
Time: 12:00 pm
Follow: Watch Live | Live Stats
Briefly:
San Diego State: Earned the No. 2 seed in this year's tournament and finished the regular season 7-13 overall and 6-1 in GCC play. The Aztecs share their fifth GCC title, winning the regular season title the first four years in the league (2014-2017). They went 2-1 against this year's tournament field, defeating Fresno State (13-12) and California Baptist (16-9), while falling to Pacific (11-10). They are led by GCC Newcomer of the Year Raquel de Pinho. The goalie was also named First-Team All-GCC with teammate Emily Bennett. Karli Canale was Second-Team All-GCC while Spencer Samuel was Honorable Mention.
Pacific: Earned the No. 3 seed in this year's tournament and finished the regular season 9-5 overall and 6-1 in league play. The share their third straight regular season championship and will be seeking their fourth straight tournament championship. They went 2-1 against this year's field, defeating San Diego State (11-10) and California Baptist (12-6), while falling to Fresno State (13-10). The Tigers are led by Player of the Year Truly Dorland, who was also named First-Team All-GCC with teammate Viktoria Tamas. Joining them as Second-Team All-GCC selections are Toula Falvey and goalie Ema Nathan.
Previous Match-up: Truly Dorland and Toula Falvey scored three goals each to lift No. 17 Pacific to a 11-10 win over No. 14 San Diego State in Golden Coast Conference play on March 13. The Tigers built a three-goal lead and held on down the stretch as the Aztecs, thanks to three goals from both Spencer Samuel and Samantha Loughlin, cut the lead to one in the closing seconds.
SEMIFINAL No. 2: No. 1 Fresno State vs. No. 4 California Baptist
Date: Friday, Apr. 23
Time: 3:00 pm
Follow: Watch Live | Live Stats
Briefly:
Fresno State: Earned the No. 1 seed in this year's tournament and finished the regular season 10-5 overall and 6-1 in GCC play. Fresno State added the sport of women's water polo in 2018 and in just three years they hold a share of their first league championship. They went 2-1 against this year's tournament field, defeating California Baptist (22-13) and Pacific (13-10), while falling at San Diego State (13-12). The Bulldogs are led by First-Team All-GCC selections Daphne Guevremont and Emily Nicholson. Earning Second-Team All-GCC for the Bulldogs is Callie Woodruff.
California Baptist: Earned the No. 4 seed in this year's tournament and finished the regular season 5-10 overall and 3-4 in league play. The Lancers, who have their highest ranking since moving to NCAA Division I at No. 17, reach the semifinals for just the third time and for the first time since 2016, which is also the last time the tournament was held in Stockton, Calif. They are led by First-Team All-GCC selection Kira O'Donell. She is joined on the all-conference team by Second-Team All-GCC selection Jamie Hutton.
Previous Match-up: No. 12 Fresno State opened up Golden Coast Conference play with a 22-13 victory over No. 20 Cal Baptist, March 6 in Riverside, Calif. Fresno State, who scored at least five goals in every quarter, logged the advantage in shots 41-30 and won three out of four sprints. Nicholson led Fresno State on offense with four goals. Hutton led all scorers with six goals on 10 shots.
HOW WE GOT HERE
This year's 2021 GCC Championship is a four-team field with the top four teams earning a bid to this year's field. Fresno State, San Diego State and Pacific all finished the 2021 conference race at 6-1 and share the regular season championship. All three punched their ticket. The fourth place spot was also a three-way tie between California Baptist, Azusa Pacific and LMU at 3-4. All four seeds went deep into the tiebreaker rules, with it being settled by goal differential in games played against the teams tied. Fresno State earned the top spot with a goal differential of +2 against Pacific and San Diego State. The Aztecs take the No. 2 seed (even) and Pacific the No. 3 seed (-2). As for the fourth seed, CBU had a goal differential of +5, while Azusa Pacific was at -2 and LMU at -3.
POSTSEASON HONORS
With the conclusion of the 2021 regular season, the Golden Coast Conference is proud to announce the 2021 GCC Women's Postseason Honors, as voted on by the league's eight coaches. Earning 2021 Player of the Year is Pacific's Truly Dorland while the Newcomer of the Year goes to San Diego State's goalie Raquel de Pinho. With the unique 2021 season, the league awarded 32 student-athletes following their performance in the pool this season. Both Dorland and de Pinho highlight eight selections to First-Team GCC All-Conference. For the full list of awards, click here.
NATIONAL POLLS
All eight GCC women's water polo teams are in this week's women's varsity national coaches' poll. Fresno State, Pacific and San Diego State all sit rank 11th, 12th and tied for 13th, respectively, with the Aztecs tied with Indiana. CBU, LMU and APU are ranked 17th, 18th, and 19th. They are followed by Santa Clara at No. 21 and Concordia is receiving votes. For the latest poll, click here.
STAT LEADERS
GOALS
| 1 |
Karli Canale |
SDSU |
51 |
| 2 |
Emily Bennett |
SDSU |
40 |
| 3 |
Toula Falvey |
UOP |
39 |
| 4 |
Truly Dorland |
UOP |
36 |
| 5 |
Daphne Guevremont |
FS |
33 |
ASSISTS
| 1 |
Lucy Davis |
UOP |
32 |
| 2 |
Claire Schade |
FS |
25 |
| 3 |
Emily Bennett |
SDSU |
21 |
| 4 |
Sienna Jagielski |
FS |
20 |
| 5 |
Viktoria Tamas |
UOP |
19 |
|
Kira O'Donell |
CBU |
19 |
|
Jamie Hutton |
CBU |
19 |
|
Spencer Samuel |
SDSU |
19 |
|
Daphne Guevremont |
FS |
19 |
POINTS
| 1 |
Karli Canale |
SDSU |
68 |
| 2 |
Emily Bennett |
SDSU |
61 |
| 3 |
Daphne Guevremont |
FS |
52 |
| 4 |
Kira O'Donell |
CBU |
50 |
| 5 |
Jamie Hutton |
CBU |
43 |
|
Lucy Davis |
UOP |
43 |
STEALS
| 1 |
Emily Bennett |
SDSU |
36 |
| 2 |
Karli Canale |
SDSU |
25 |
| 3 |
Ema Nathan |
UOP |
24 |
| 4 |
Truly Dorland |
UOP |
21 |
|
Claire Schade |
FS |
21 |
SAVES
| 1 |
Raquel de Pinho |
SDSU |
122 |
| 2 |
Olivia Lott |
APU |
72 |
| 3 |
Elizabeth Bradley |
LMU |
70 |
| 4 |
Tatiana Cava |
CUI |
68 |
| 5 |
Ema Nathan |
UOP |
66 |
For more stats, click here >>.
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