#GCCWaterPolo - The month of April arrives this weekend and it is championship month. And what a start to the month we have in the Golden Coast Conference as the season points to the 10th annual GCC Women’s Championships Apr. 28-30.
Five conference games highlight the week and it centers around a showdown at the top of the standings as No. 9 Fresno State (13-7, 5-0) hosts No. 16 LMU (11-12, 4-0) on Saturday. The Bulldogs have won nine straight overall and 20 straight GCC games. It is a rematch of last year’s title game.
With a win on Saturday, they will clinch at least a share of their third straight GCC regular season championship and the No. 1 seed at the upcoming Championships.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
LMU’s Kelsey Snelgar helped lead the Lions to a 3-0 record last weekend to earn GCC Player of the Week honors for March 30. In her final three home games of her college career, Snelgar finished the weekend with 10 points, including a team-high eight goals and two assists. She finished with a .615 shooting percentage. Snelgar scored in all three games of the weekend including three goals in the GCC win over CBU to move LMU to 4-0 in conference and four goals in the win over No. 18 UC San Diego.
Mar. 30 - Kelsey Snelgar, LMU
Mar. 23 - Clara Vulpisi, Pacific
Mar. 15 - Madison Davis, LMU
Mar. 9 - Tatiana Cava, Concordia
Mar. 2 - Mollie Williams, LMU
Feb. 23 - Jillian Schultz, Fresno State
Feb. 16 - Hila Futorian, Pacific
Feb. 9 - Hailey Andress, Fresno State
Feb. 2 - Dora Alaksza, Pacific
Jan. 26 - Ruth Arino Ruiz, LMU
Jan. 19 - Jamie Hutton, CBU
For list of past Player of the Week winners, click here >>
STORYLINES
STREAKS:
Fresno State enters the week with nine straight wins, having started GCC play 5-0 and earning two wins last weekend over No. 12 Pacific and No. 20 San Jose State. They have won 20 straight GCC games dating back to March 27, 2021. LMU has put together a three-game winning streak with their wins last weekend to set-up Saturday’s showdown.
STRONG PERFORMANCES:
- Azusa Pacific’s Montana White led the team against CSUF with four goals and three assists for a seven point day. The Cougars won 14-12.
- Cynthia Rosa helped lead Fresno State to two ranked wins on the road last weekend. Against No. 12 Pacific, she totaled three goals to lead the team in scoring while going for her first hat trick of the season. Rosa's three goals led Fresno State to remain undefeated in conference play.
- LMU’s Ruth Arino Ruiz had a big weekend in three games, adding 24 points to her season total of 86. She had six goals and 18 assists, including five against CBU and seven against No. 18 UC San Diego. She is ranked second in the GCC in total points and leads the league with 45 assists.
- Claudia Valdes scored five goals for San Diego State against Concordia on Friday, including the game opener. Then trailing 8-6 with four minutes to play found the back of the cage twice to send the game to extra time. In the bonus periods she scored twice including the game winner in the 11-10 triumph. In addition she had two assists, two steals and won two sprints.
- Santa Clara picked up a win last weekend in non-conference play, defeating Fresno Pacific, 16-15, in overtime. Maddie Clough scored or assisted on 10 of the Broncos' 16 goals in the game. She had nine assists on the game and her lone goal was the most important in the game, as it ended up being the game winner. She also added two steals in the game.
WEEK 12:
March ends and April begins in the college water polo season and that means the GCC tournament is right around the corner. Week 12 of the season features nine games, five of which are key GCC match-ups. Take a look at the five conference match-ups this week:
- Mar. 31 - California Baptist at Concordia - 12 pm | Live Stats
- Mar. 31 - No. 25 San Diego State at Santa Clara - 4:30 pm | Live Stats
- Apr. 1 - Azusa Pacific at California Baptist - 11 am | Live Stats
- Apr. 1 - No. 25 San Diego State at No. 12 Pacific - 12 pm | Live Stats
- Apr. 1 - No. 16 Loyola Marymount at No. 9 Fresno State - 12 pm | Live Stats
The conference games highlight the nine-game slate this week. Non-conference match-ups include Santa Clara at No. 11 UC Davis on Saturday and at No. 1 Stanford on Sunday. No. 12 Pacific hosts No. 5 Cal on Sunday, while Concordia hosts Westcliff on Tuesday, Apr. 4. For full schedule, visit the GCC schedule page here >>
TEAM SNAPSHOTS
Azusa Pacific
Azusa Pacific is 13-9 overall and 1-3 in GCC play. They defeated Cal State Fullerton, 14-12, in their only game last week. They travel to rival California Baptist on Saturday. Madeline Schultz continues to pace the Cougars offense with 60 goals, ranking third in the GCC. She is tied for fifth with 67 total points. Skylar Ford leads the team with 19 assists, ranking in a tie for seventh in the GCC.
California Baptist
The Lancers are 14-14 overall on the season and 0-3 in GCC play. They fell at LMU in GCC play last weekend, 13-8. They are at Concordia on Friday and host Azusa Pacific on Saturday in a pair of GCC games. Jamie Hutton is tied for fourth within the GCC scoring 51 goals and seventh in assists with 19. She is fourth in the GCC with 70 total points. Emaly Hutton is eighth with 59 points, ranking ninth with 43 goals.
Concordia
Concordia is 13-12 overall and 2-2 in GCC play. They have dropped four straight, the last three coming last week, all by just one goal. They fell to No. 25 San Diego State (11-10) and No. 21 Brown (12-11) in overtime, and to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (7-6). Madison Ravelo is the league leader in goals with 84 and in points with 104. Goalie Tatiana Cava leads the league in saves (285) and save percentage (.536).
Fresno State
Fresno State enters the week ranked ninth in the nation riding a nine-game winning streak. They are 13-7 overall and 5-0 in league play. They added to their 20-game win streak in GCC play with a win over 12 Pacific (10-7) last weekend. They also won at No. 20 San Jose State, 7-6. They host No. 16 LMU in a key GCC match-up on Saturday. With a win they will earn a share of their third straight regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the GCC tournament. Brooke Ochoa is tied for fourth in the GCC with 51 goals and tied for fifth in points with 67. Goalie Paula Nietoi Jasny is the league leader with a 9.42 goals against average.
Loyola Marymount
LMU is ranked 16th in the national poll this week with a record of 11-12 overall and 4-0 in GCC play. Last weekend in their home finales, they defeated CBU (13-8), Westcliff (17-11) and No. 18 UC San Diego (14-12). Marialena Seletopoulou is second in the GCC with 61 goals and third in points with 71. Ruth Arino Ruiz is ranked second in the GCC in total points and leads the league with 45 assists.
Pacific
Pacific is ranked 12th in the latest national poll with a record of 17-6 overall and 2-2 in GCC play. They dropped a 10-7 decision at home to No. 7 Fresno State in GCC play. They host No. 25 San Diego State on Saturday and No. 5 Cal on Saturday. Hila Futorian is tied for fourth in the GCC with 51 goals, one of three Tigers in the top-10. Szamira Koppany is seventh with 48 and Dora Alaksza is eighth with 46. Goalie Clara Vulpisi is second in the GCC with 137 saves and second in goals against average with 10.27.
San Diego State
San Diego State is ranked 25th nationally and are 8-14 overall and 1-1 in GCC play. They earned an 11-10 overtime win on the road over Concordia in GCC play last weekend. They travel to Santa Clara on Friday and to No. 12 Pacific on Saturday for a pair of GCC match-ups. Three Aztecs are in the top-10 within the GCC in assists, led by Rose Kanemy with 28, which is ranked third. Claudia Valdes is fifth with 23 and Amanda Legaspi is tied for ninth with 18. Valdes is ninth in the GCC with 58 points, adding 35 goals on the season.
Santa Clara
Santa Clara is 9-14 and 0-4 in GCC play after defeating Fresno Pacific in overtime, 16-15. They host San Diego State on Friday, then travel to No. 11 UC Davis on Saturday and to No. 1 Stanford on Sunday. Maddie Clough is second in the GCC with 38 assists. She leads the team with 49 points. Lauren Voss is fourth with 27 assists. Kate Rodman leads the team with 35 goals and 12 assists, good for 47 points.
CONFERENCE LEADERS
GOALS
| ## |
NAME |
TEAM |
G |
| 1. |
Madison Ravelo |
CUI |
84 |
| 2. |
Marialena Seletopoulou |
LMU |
61 |
| 3. |
Madeline Schultz |
APU |
60 |
| 4. |
Jamie Hutton |
CBU |
51 |
|
Hila Futorian |
UOP |
51 |
|
Brooke Ochoa |
FS |
51 |
ASSISTS
| ## |
NAME |
TEAM |
A |
| 1. |
Ruth Arino Ruiz |
LMU |
45 |
| 2. |
Maddie Clough |
SCU |
38 |
| 3. |
Rose Kanemy |
SDSU |
28 |
| 4. |
Lauren Voss |
SCU |
27 |
| 5. |
Claudia Valdes |
SDSU |
23 |
POINTS
| ## |
NAME |
TEAM |
PTS |
| 1. |
Madison Ravelo |
CUI |
104 |
| 2. |
Ruth Arino Ruiz |
LMU |
86 |
| 3. |
Marialena Seletopoulou |
LMU |
71 |
| 4. |
Jamie Hutton |
CBU |
70 |
| 5. |
Hila Futorian |
UOP |
67 |
|
Madeline Schultz |
APU |
67 |
|
Brooke Ochoa |
FS |
67 |
STEALS
| ## |
NAME |
TEAM |
STL |
| 1. |
Claudia Valdes |
SDSU |
31 |
| 2. |
Clara Vulpisi |
UOP |
26 |
|
Daniela Herrero Miralles |
APU |
26 |
| 4. |
Samantha Loughlin |
SDSU |
25 |
| 5. |
Kyndall Burrell |
CBU |
24 |
|
Amanda Legaspi |
SDSU |
24 |
SAVES
| ## |
NAME |
TEAM |
SV |
| 1. |
Tatiana Cava |
CUI |
285 |
| 2. |
Clara Vulpisi |
UOP |
137 |
| 3. |
Liyara Senadheera |
SCU |
129 |
| 4. |
Mandy Lagerlof |
SDSU |
126 |
| 5. |
Daniela Herrero Miralles |
APU |
122 |
SAVE PERCENTAGE
| ## |
NAME |
TEAM |
SV |
SVPCT |
| 1. |
Tatiana Cava |
CUI |
285 |
.536 |
| 2. |
Paula Nieto Jasny |
FS |
120 |
.488 |
| 3. |
Liyara Senadheera |
SCU |
129 |
.469 |
| 4. |
Tiaare Ahovelo |
SDSU |
88 |
.444 |
| 5. |
Mandy Lagerlof |
SDSU |
126 |
.439 |
GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE
| ## |
NAME |
TEAM |
GP |
GAA |
| 1. |
Paula Nieto Jasny |
FS |
19 |
9.42 |
| 2. |
Clara Vulpisi |
UOP |
23 |
10.27 |
| 3. |
Tatiana Cava |
CUI |
25 |
10.58 |
| 4. |
Ava Ratajczak |
CBU |
14 |
10.75 |
| 5. |
Daniela Herrero Miralles |
APU |
19 |
10.84 |
Check out all the
conference and team stats here >>
NATIONAL POLL
The Collegiate Water Polo Association National Coaches' Poll for week 11 (Mar. 29) has four GCC teams mentioned. Fresno State sits at No. 9 this week and Pacific remains ranked at No. 12. LMU follows at No. 16 and San Diego State is ranked 25th. Check out the entire poll here >>
2023 CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2023 GCC Women's Championships will be hosted by San Diego State University in San Diego, Calif., on Apr. 28-30. The winner earns the automatic bid to the 2023 National Collegiate Women's Championships. Learn more on the GCC Championships here >>.
GCC CELEBRATES YEAR 10
The Golden Coast Conference celebrates its 10th season with the 2023 collegiate women's water polo season. In 2023, eight institutions will compete within the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The league began in 2014 and in 2016 the league added a men's division with six member institutions. The men's division concluded in 2022 with the six schools joining new leagues. Learn more about the
GCC history here >>
2023 PRESEASON POLL
1. LMU - 48 points (6 first place votes)
2. Fresno State - 41 points (2)
3. Pacific - 40 points
4. San Diego State - 30 points
5. Azusa Pacific - 21 points
6. California Baptist - 20 points
7. Santa Clara - 15 points
8. Concordia - 9 points
#GCCWaterPolo