TEMPE, Ariz. – Coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons and climbing as high as No. 4 in the rankings, the Sun Devil Water Polo program will once again prepare for a challenging non-conference schedule. Head Coach Todd Clapper enters his 13th season at the helm, leading ASU to Top-10 finishes in each of the last five seasons.
The 2017-18 Arizona State Water Polo team opens up their regular season at the 2018 UCSB Winter Invite, starting Saturday, Jan. 20th, at the UCSB Recreation Center/Campus Pool in Santa Barbara, Calif. The tournament will feature a total of six teams who finished last year in the ACWPA Top-25, including a pair of teams who finished just behind Arizona State in the Top-10.
The team will take part in three games over opening weekend, with the season opener taking place Saturday afternoon (4:30 P.M. MST) when the Sun Devils take on Cal Baptist at the UCSB Campus Pool. ASU will round out the 2018 UCSB Winter Invite with a pair of Sunday matches against Top-25 finishers, the first of which is set for 10:10 A.M. MST facing off against Indiana before competing against Michigan later that day at 2:00 P.M. MST at the UCSB Rec Center.
Arizona State will open the home slate at the ASU Cross Conference Challenge, scheduled for February 2nd-4th at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The Cross-Conference Challenge features a highly competitive five-team field with each team finishing last season in the ACWPA Top-25. The home opener will take place Friday, February 2nd at 12:00 p.m. when the Sun Devils take on Princeton in the only tournament game of the day. Continuing the Cross-Conference Challenge, ASU returns to the pool the following day, February 3rd, for a pair of matches. The first match, scheduled for 11 a.m. MST, features the Sun Devils and the University of Hawaii with the second match later in the day pitting ASU against Loyola Marymount at 4:30 p.m. The Challenge concludes with a match with a final competition against UCSD on Sunday at 12 p.m. MST.
After wrapping up the first home tournament of the season, the team will immediately head to California the next weekend, participating in a pair of prestigious tournaments, starting with the UCSD Triton Invitational, running from February 10-11. Following the Triton Invitational, Arizona State will stay on the road, and in California, when they travel to UC Irvine for the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, scheduled for February 23-25. Both of the invitationals are unique in the fact that the tournament schedule will be formulated based off of ranking at the time of the tournament. The Sun Devils wrap up their non-conference road schedule competing against some of the top programs in the country thanks to this format.
ASU will return home to the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center to host their second non-conference tournament, a significant opportunity for the fans to check out the team in person. The Sun Devils host three teams, playing each team once over the two-day ASU Invitational running from March 10-11th. ASU kicks off the Invitational with a pair of matchups scheduled for Saturday March 10th. The first matchup will be a rematch from the UCSB Winter Invite when they take on 2017 Top-25 finisher Indiana at 11:00 a.m. The second match of the day pits the Sun Devils against Fresno State at 3:00 p.m. The final day of the Invitational kicks off when ASU takes on Pomona-Pfizer at 9:30 a.m. in the first game on Sunday. Additionally, there is an optional exhibition match tentatively scheduled to take place between 2-5 p.m. where the coaching staffs will have the ability to agree upon playing an extra game between Arizona State and tournament participants Fresno State or Indiana. The ASU Invitational marks the end of non-conference play for the Sun Devils.
After hosting the ASU Invitational, the Sun Devils will embark on conference play in the MPSF, the premiere collegiate women's water polo conference. The MPSF sent the maximum four representatives to the 2017 NCAA Championships, all four of which made up the final four teams in the NCAA Championship.
MPSF action begins March 17 as with a home meeting against California, a team that the Sun Devils upset a year ago when the Golden Bears held the No. 4 national ranking. The match is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The team will continue the home stand the following weekend, hosting another MPSF powerhouse, USC. The Trojans fell to eventual national championship Stanford in the 2017 National Semifinals. The Sun Devils get their first crack at knocking off the Trojans when they come to Tempe on March 24th at 1:00 p.m. With the home schedule wrapping up after the March 24th.
The conference slate continues for the Sun Devils when they head to California to embark on a three-game road trip to end the season. The first match represents a stiff test for the team, travelling to Westwood to take on defending National runner-up UCLA on March 31st at Spieker Aquatic Center. ASU then travels to San Jose State on April 13th to take on the Spartans, who will be playing their home matches this season at West Valley College. The California road trip wraps up with a showdown against defending National Champion and perennial power Stanford. The second game of the weekend will take place April 15th at 3:00 p.m. in the Avery Aquatic Center.
The season will cap the year with an appearance in the MPSF Championship, hosted by California in Berkeley this season. The Championships are scheduled to take place April 27-29th. Follow along all season on social media and continue to check thesundevils.com for updates and more information.
The Sun Devils have established themselves as one of the elite teams in the country in the last couple years. In the last five seasons prior, the Sun Devils have compiled an 100-43 record under head coach Todd Clapper. ASU has finished in the Top-10 each of those seasons, including three Top-5 finishes in the CWPA poll. They also have taken advantage of playing in front of the home crowd, recording a 29-10 record at home the last five years. The team has garnered 18 All-America honors since 2013 with two student-athletes receiving first team honors, three earning second team honors, four selected to the third team and nine getting honorable mention distinction. The program also earned its first ever win over national power UCLA, a 7-6 victory over the No. 3 Bruins on March 2, 2013.
With Todd Clapper entering his 13th year at the helm of the program, the veteran head coach is excited to see how the team developed after several members of the team gained international experience this summer.
The following is a position-by-position preview of the 2018 roster:
GOALKEEPERS
Now entering her senior season, Mia Rycraw has already established herself as one of the most decorated goalies in school history. The 2017 ACWPC honorable mention All-American comes off a season where she anchored a stingy Sun Devil defense. After accounting for 202 saves on the year, which tied USC's Amanda Logan as the most of anyone in the league, Rycraw earned All-MPSF First Team honors. The defense returns veterans and adds newcomers to a group that allowed just 169 goals on the year to finish the season with a 6.26 goals against average, a mark that ranked fourth in the MPSF.
Rycraw looks to build off her time this summer with USA Women's Water Polo program. She was a member of the United States roster for the World University Games in Taipei. The U.S. team captured the Gold medal at the games, with Rycraw seeing time at goalie and recording a save in the victory over Hungary.
Arizona State boast unprecedented depth behind Rycraw, with a solid mixture of experience and youth. Both Ellie Karl and Sophia Burgess enter their junior season hungry to compete for more playing time. Karl saw action in Arizona State's victory over La Verne, finishing with five saves, giving Sun Devil fans a glimpse of her enormous potential. Burgess also gained valuable experience last season with several appearances in relief, including a four-save effort in a victory over Sonoma State. Freshman Belen Ehinger comes to ASU after an extremely successful prep career in Florida. Ehinger looks to learn and gain knowledge from the veterans at her position as she adds an element of youth to the position.
CENTERS
The Sun Devils are once again strong down the middle of the pool with a talented group of centers. Led by veterans Alkistis Benekou and Rosie Huck, this group is essential to maintaining a balanced attack for the Sun Devil offense.
Benekou, the former All-American as a freshman, has made a significant impact since returning to the team after a brief stint training and competing in the Olympics for Greece. With 143 career goals coming into the season, Benekou now sits in sixth place in school history. Last season, Benekou tied her own school record with a seven-goal outburst in a 17-3 victory over La Verne. Benekou has reached the 40-goal plateau in each of her three seasons in Tempe.
Benekou will have plenty of help at the center position, represented by fellow returner Rosie Huck. Huck broke out onto the scene last season, tallying 14 goals on the year. Huck developed into another reliable scoring option for the Sun Devils, recording two hat-tricks on last season, one against Bucknell on at the Wolverine Invitational and the other coming in a 11-3 victory over No. 15 San Jose State. Huck competed internationally during the off season with British women's water polo National Team at the World University Games. While at the tournament, she faced some of the world's most talented athletes, including fellow Sun Devil Mia Rycraw and former Sun Devil Daisy Carter. Huck returned to the English squad after previously winning the 2017 EU Nations Cup Senior championship.
The Sun Devils also add talented center prospect Meghan Beaudet, adding some youth to a veteran-laden position group. Beaudet competed for Duke City Aquatics Water Polo club team, earning club MVP honors for five consecutive seasons. She gained national team experience after being selected to the 2016 Olympic Development Program Girl's Youth National Team. Beaudet had an outstanding prep career at Volcano Vista High School, earning first team All-State recognition as a center in three straight seasons.
ATTACKERS
Arizona State's offensive attack will feature versatility, experience, and athleticism. After an outstanding campaign last season, senior Lena Mihailovic looks to build on the confidence she gained. After combining for 55 total goals over her first two season, Mihailovic finished with 45 goals in 27 games last year leading to 2017 ACWPC All-American honorable mention honors. The second team All-MPSF performer led the team with nine three-plus goal outings on the year. This summer, she competed as a member of the Team Australia national team, the Aussie Stingers, at the 17th FINA World Championships.
Junior Maud Koopman gives the Sun Devils another talented scoring option. Koopman finished with an incredible 41 goals in her sophomore season, building off a 39-goal rookie campaign. Koopman led the team with 13 multi-goal performances, including a pair of five goal performances over the first four games of the season. She spent the summer gaining experience while competing for the bronze-winning Netherlands World Junior National Team in the FINA World Junior Water Polo Championships. Koopman totaled six goals for the Dutch squad in six tournament games.
Juniors P.J. Allin and Julia Reyes continue to improve throughout their time in Tempe. Both attackers should she increased playing time filling scoring roles left by graduate departures. Allin returns to Tempe after spending the summer competing for the Canadian Women's Junior National Team. Tallied 15 goals on the season in her second year at Arizona State, including recording a career-high three goals on Feb. 11 against UC Davis at the Triton Invitational. Julia Reyes also looks to take advantage of playing time opportunities. Reyes has compiled eight goals so far during her two-year career at ASU. Last season, Reyes made an impact in the match against CSU East Bay, scoring a pair of goals in the Sun Devils 12-5 victory.
Redshirt freshman Cassidy Degraff and freshman Layla Waters represent a bright future at the position for the Sun Devils. Degraff looks to make an impact and crack the lineup after redshirting last season. Meanwhile, Waters comes to ASU after spending four years as a member of the varsity water polo team at Sacred Heart Prep, the final two of which she was named team captain. She helped lead Sacred Heart to four consecutive Central Coast section titles along with a pair of WCAL titles. Received All-West Catholic Athletic League and Central Coast Section first team honors in each of her final three years of high school.
DEFENDERS
Although only two athletes are listed as defenders, expect it to be a team effort on the defense end thanks to the versatility offered by the utility and center position groups. A pair of sophomores represent the two defenders who will be crucial to the success of the Sun Devil's season.
Coming off an incredible freshman campaign where she broke out onto the national scene, Bente Rogge will be key to maintaining the balance that has led to the recent unprecedented success. Rogge had the opportunity to compete as a member of the Dutch National Team at the 12th FINA World Junior Championships. A teammate of fellow current Sun Devil Maud Koopman during the championship, the Dutch team captured the bronze medal with Rogge finishing the tournament with nine goals. Made an instant impact in Tempe, tallying 30 goals in just 26 games as a freshman.
Redshirt sophomore Catherine Simko looks to increase her contributions on the defensive side. After redshirting her first season in Tempe, Simko found her way in the lineup frequently as a reserve last year. Simko finished the campaign with eight goals on the season and provided consistently tough defense, while facing some of the country's highest-powered offenses. She recorded a pair of multi-goal games on the season.
UTILITY
The Utility position group is led by returning senior Kayla Casas, who has been a steadying force for the water polo program throughout her time in Tempe. Casas provides the Sun Devils lineup with consistency and versatility, giving Coach Clapper multiple lineup options. Casas has reached the double-figure goal plateau in each of her previous three seasons as a Sun Devil, culminating with a career-high 14-goal campaign last year. Among her three multi-goal performances on the year, the most clutch of them all was a two-goal effort in a victory over then ranked No. 6 UC Irvine.
Supporting Casas at the position are a pair of freshman that offer a glimpse into the future of how the Sun Devils roster will be constructed in the future. Amira Van Buren was a standout in the pool for Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, Calif. A member of her high school's varsity water polo and swim teams beginning in 2013, Van Buren helped her squad make back-to-back playoff appearances. Van Buren claimed first team All CIF honors following her junior season in 2015 after earning third team All CIF recognition in 2014.
Kate Cassidy comes to ASU after a record-setting prep career in Florida. She was named Palm Beach Player of the Year in all four of her high school seasons. Last season Cassidy helped lead Saint Andrew's School to the state quarterfinals, where they fell to Lake Nona. She finished her senior season with 97 goals, 66 Steals, 47 assists and earned 37 kick outs. Currently holds her high school record with 16 goals in a game against Hagerty and holds two other school records for most steals in a game (11) and goals in a season with 117. Completed her junior season with an eye popping 93 goals on 133 attempts, while adding five assists and 50 steals. Following the regular season Cassidy attended the US Junior National Team Selection camp. During her senior season, Cassidy served as the senior team captain for both her swim and water polo teams.
The first regular season action for the 2018 women's water polo team begins Saturday, January 20th when the Sun Devils take on Cal Baptist at 4:30 p.m. as part of the UCSB Winter Invite. The tournament continues for ASU with two games on Sunday, January 21st when the Sun Devils take on Indiana at 10:10 a.m. and later in the day face Michigan at 2:00 pm.
2017 Season Recap:
The 2017 women's water polo season completed yet another successful campaign as one of the most decorated programs in the country. The team spent a majority of the season in the Top-5 of the CWPA poll including climbing as high as fourth, finishing the season as the No. 6 team in the nation. The Sun Devils finished with a 20-7 record, reaching the 20-win plateau for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in program history. ASU took fifth place at the MPSF Championships, finishing only behind the Top-4 nationally ranked teams. The women's water polo team compiled seven wins over teams that finished in the Top-10 teams including two key victories over No. 5 UC Irvine and a win over No. 4 California. Three members of the Sun Devil water polo team were named to the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches 2017 All-America Team. Standout Bente Rogge headlined the trio of Sun Devil honorees earning third-team honors, while Mia Rycraw and Lena Mihailovic earned honorable mention honors. Those same three individuals received MPSF All-Conference honors as well, with Rycraw placing on the first team, Mihailovic on the second team and Rogge getting honorable mention distinction.
2017 ACWPC Academic All-Americans:
As is typical with the women's water polo program, they enjoyed as much success outside of the pool as they did in it. A total of eight Arizona State Women's Water Polo student-athletes earned recognition by the ACWPC in the 2017 Women's All-Academic Awards. Maud Koopman, P.J. Allin and Rosie Huck were awarded Outstanding honors, which require a GPA of above a 3.70. Lena Mihailovic was honored by the ACWPC for the third time in her career, earning Superior honors in 2017, after receiving Outstanding honors her previous year. Also receiving Superior honors, which requires a G.P.A. above 3.40, is freshman Bente Rogge. Goalkeepers Sophia Burgess and Ellie Karl along with Catherine Simko were awarded with Excellent honors, requiring a GPA at or above a 3.20. Maud Koopman was recognized by CoSIDA for her work in the classroom, awarding her with Academic All-District honors.
Review of the Past Five Season:
The last five seasons have seen the Sun Devil women's water polo program led by head coach Todd Clapper has obtained unprecedented success. ASU has compiled a 100-43 record in that span and have finished in the Top-10 each of those seasons, including three Top-5 finishes in the CWPA poll. They also have taken advantage of playing in front of the home crowd, recording a 29-10 record at home the last five years. Alicia Brightwell had a record setting 2013 campaign, compiling a school record 84 goals and 111 points, which is good enough for second in program history. Brightwell finished with 159 goals during her two-year Sun Devil career, placing her third in school history. Goalie E.B. Keeve anchored an elite defense in 2013, setting the school single season record with 377 saves. Goalie Mia Rycraw saved 66% of the opponent's shots on goal during the 2016 season, setting a single season school record. She also sits third in program history in career saves, career goals against average, and career saves per game. The Sun Devils posted a program-best fourth-place finish in the MPSF Championships and CWPA Final Coaches Poll in 2013. The program climbed as high as No. 3 in the rankings, doing it seven times with the most recent coming on March 6, 2013. The Sun Devils earned the only two NCAA tournament berths in school history in the last five seasons. In the 2016 NCAA Tournament, ASU went 2-1 including an 8-2 victory over UC San Diego in the fifth-place game. It was the second time that ASU finished fifth at the NCAA Championships, defeating UC Irvine 6-5 in their inaugural NCAA tournament appearance. The team has garnered 18 All-America honors since 2013 with two student-athletes receiving first team honors, three earning second team honors, four selected to the third team and nine getting honorable mention distinction. The program also earned its first ever win over national power UCLA, a 7-6 victory over the No. 3 Bruins on March 2, 2013.
SUN DEVIL WATER POLO ALL-AMERICANS:
2017: Bente Rogge, (third), Mia Rycraw (HM), Lena Mihailovic (HM)
2016: Ao Gao (first), Mia Rycraw (first), Abbey Kerth (HM), Maud Koopman (HM)
2015: Izabella Chiappini (third), E.B. Keeve (HM), Alkistis Benekou (HM)
2014: Ao Gao (second), E.B. Keeve (third), Alkistis Benekou (HM), Patra Pardi (HM)
2013: Alicia Brightwell (second), Ao Gao (second), Shannon Haas (third), E.B. Keeve (HM)
2012: Alicia Brightwell (first), Shannon Haas (third), Mariam Salloum (HM)
2011: Sarah Harris (HM), Mariam Salloum (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2010: Sarah Harris (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2009: Addison McGrath (second), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2008: Addison McGrath (first) Kelly Phelps (HM), Caylinn Wallace (HM)
2007: Addison McGrath (HM)
2006: Rowie Webster (third)
2004: Katie Davis (HM)
The 2017-18 Arizona State Water Polo team opens up their regular season at the 2018 UCSB Winter Invite, starting Saturday, Jan. 20th, at the UCSB Recreation Center/Campus Pool in Santa Barbara, Calif. The tournament will feature a total of six teams who finished last year in the ACWPA Top-25, including a pair of teams who finished just behind Arizona State in the Top-10.
The team will take part in three games over opening weekend, with the season opener taking place Saturday afternoon (4:30 P.M. MST) when the Sun Devils take on Cal Baptist at the UCSB Campus Pool. ASU will round out the 2018 UCSB Winter Invite with a pair of Sunday matches against Top-25 finishers, the first of which is set for 10:10 A.M. MST facing off against Indiana before competing against Michigan later that day at 2:00 P.M. MST at the UCSB Rec Center.
Arizona State will open the home slate at the ASU Cross Conference Challenge, scheduled for February 2nd-4th at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The Cross-Conference Challenge features a highly competitive five-team field with each team finishing last season in the ACWPA Top-25. The home opener will take place Friday, February 2nd at 12:00 p.m. when the Sun Devils take on Princeton in the only tournament game of the day. Continuing the Cross-Conference Challenge, ASU returns to the pool the following day, February 3rd, for a pair of matches. The first match, scheduled for 11 a.m. MST, features the Sun Devils and the University of Hawaii with the second match later in the day pitting ASU against Loyola Marymount at 4:30 p.m. The Challenge concludes with a match with a final competition against UCSD on Sunday at 12 p.m. MST.
After wrapping up the first home tournament of the season, the team will immediately head to California the next weekend, participating in a pair of prestigious tournaments, starting with the UCSD Triton Invitational, running from February 10-11. Following the Triton Invitational, Arizona State will stay on the road, and in California, when they travel to UC Irvine for the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, scheduled for February 23-25. Both of the invitationals are unique in the fact that the tournament schedule will be formulated based off of ranking at the time of the tournament. The Sun Devils wrap up their non-conference road schedule competing against some of the top programs in the country thanks to this format.
ASU will return home to the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center to host their second non-conference tournament, a significant opportunity for the fans to check out the team in person. The Sun Devils host three teams, playing each team once over the two-day ASU Invitational running from March 10-11th. ASU kicks off the Invitational with a pair of matchups scheduled for Saturday March 10th. The first matchup will be a rematch from the UCSB Winter Invite when they take on 2017 Top-25 finisher Indiana at 11:00 a.m. The second match of the day pits the Sun Devils against Fresno State at 3:00 p.m. The final day of the Invitational kicks off when ASU takes on Pomona-Pfizer at 9:30 a.m. in the first game on Sunday. Additionally, there is an optional exhibition match tentatively scheduled to take place between 2-5 p.m. where the coaching staffs will have the ability to agree upon playing an extra game between Arizona State and tournament participants Fresno State or Indiana. The ASU Invitational marks the end of non-conference play for the Sun Devils.
After hosting the ASU Invitational, the Sun Devils will embark on conference play in the MPSF, the premiere collegiate women's water polo conference. The MPSF sent the maximum four representatives to the 2017 NCAA Championships, all four of which made up the final four teams in the NCAA Championship.
MPSF action begins March 17 as with a home meeting against California, a team that the Sun Devils upset a year ago when the Golden Bears held the No. 4 national ranking. The match is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The team will continue the home stand the following weekend, hosting another MPSF powerhouse, USC. The Trojans fell to eventual national championship Stanford in the 2017 National Semifinals. The Sun Devils get their first crack at knocking off the Trojans when they come to Tempe on March 24th at 1:00 p.m. With the home schedule wrapping up after the March 24th.
The conference slate continues for the Sun Devils when they head to California to embark on a three-game road trip to end the season. The first match represents a stiff test for the team, travelling to Westwood to take on defending National runner-up UCLA on March 31st at Spieker Aquatic Center. ASU then travels to San Jose State on April 13th to take on the Spartans, who will be playing their home matches this season at West Valley College. The California road trip wraps up with a showdown against defending National Champion and perennial power Stanford. The second game of the weekend will take place April 15th at 3:00 p.m. in the Avery Aquatic Center.
The season will cap the year with an appearance in the MPSF Championship, hosted by California in Berkeley this season. The Championships are scheduled to take place April 27-29th. Follow along all season on social media and continue to check thesundevils.com for updates and more information.
The Sun Devils have established themselves as one of the elite teams in the country in the last couple years. In the last five seasons prior, the Sun Devils have compiled an 100-43 record under head coach Todd Clapper. ASU has finished in the Top-10 each of those seasons, including three Top-5 finishes in the CWPA poll. They also have taken advantage of playing in front of the home crowd, recording a 29-10 record at home the last five years. The team has garnered 18 All-America honors since 2013 with two student-athletes receiving first team honors, three earning second team honors, four selected to the third team and nine getting honorable mention distinction. The program also earned its first ever win over national power UCLA, a 7-6 victory over the No. 3 Bruins on March 2, 2013.
With Todd Clapper entering his 13th year at the helm of the program, the veteran head coach is excited to see how the team developed after several members of the team gained international experience this summer.
The following is a position-by-position preview of the 2018 roster:
GOALKEEPERS
Now entering her senior season, Mia Rycraw has already established herself as one of the most decorated goalies in school history. The 2017 ACWPC honorable mention All-American comes off a season where she anchored a stingy Sun Devil defense. After accounting for 202 saves on the year, which tied USC's Amanda Logan as the most of anyone in the league, Rycraw earned All-MPSF First Team honors. The defense returns veterans and adds newcomers to a group that allowed just 169 goals on the year to finish the season with a 6.26 goals against average, a mark that ranked fourth in the MPSF.
Rycraw looks to build off her time this summer with USA Women's Water Polo program. She was a member of the United States roster for the World University Games in Taipei. The U.S. team captured the Gold medal at the games, with Rycraw seeing time at goalie and recording a save in the victory over Hungary.
Arizona State boast unprecedented depth behind Rycraw, with a solid mixture of experience and youth. Both Ellie Karl and Sophia Burgess enter their junior season hungry to compete for more playing time. Karl saw action in Arizona State's victory over La Verne, finishing with five saves, giving Sun Devil fans a glimpse of her enormous potential. Burgess also gained valuable experience last season with several appearances in relief, including a four-save effort in a victory over Sonoma State. Freshman Belen Ehinger comes to ASU after an extremely successful prep career in Florida. Ehinger looks to learn and gain knowledge from the veterans at her position as she adds an element of youth to the position.
CENTERS
The Sun Devils are once again strong down the middle of the pool with a talented group of centers. Led by veterans Alkistis Benekou and Rosie Huck, this group is essential to maintaining a balanced attack for the Sun Devil offense.
Benekou, the former All-American as a freshman, has made a significant impact since returning to the team after a brief stint training and competing in the Olympics for Greece. With 143 career goals coming into the season, Benekou now sits in sixth place in school history. Last season, Benekou tied her own school record with a seven-goal outburst in a 17-3 victory over La Verne. Benekou has reached the 40-goal plateau in each of her three seasons in Tempe.
Benekou will have plenty of help at the center position, represented by fellow returner Rosie Huck. Huck broke out onto the scene last season, tallying 14 goals on the year. Huck developed into another reliable scoring option for the Sun Devils, recording two hat-tricks on last season, one against Bucknell on at the Wolverine Invitational and the other coming in a 11-3 victory over No. 15 San Jose State. Huck competed internationally during the off season with British women's water polo National Team at the World University Games. While at the tournament, she faced some of the world's most talented athletes, including fellow Sun Devil Mia Rycraw and former Sun Devil Daisy Carter. Huck returned to the English squad after previously winning the 2017 EU Nations Cup Senior championship.
The Sun Devils also add talented center prospect Meghan Beaudet, adding some youth to a veteran-laden position group. Beaudet competed for Duke City Aquatics Water Polo club team, earning club MVP honors for five consecutive seasons. She gained national team experience after being selected to the 2016 Olympic Development Program Girl's Youth National Team. Beaudet had an outstanding prep career at Volcano Vista High School, earning first team All-State recognition as a center in three straight seasons.
ATTACKERS
Arizona State's offensive attack will feature versatility, experience, and athleticism. After an outstanding campaign last season, senior Lena Mihailovic looks to build on the confidence she gained. After combining for 55 total goals over her first two season, Mihailovic finished with 45 goals in 27 games last year leading to 2017 ACWPC All-American honorable mention honors. The second team All-MPSF performer led the team with nine three-plus goal outings on the year. This summer, she competed as a member of the Team Australia national team, the Aussie Stingers, at the 17th FINA World Championships.
Junior Maud Koopman gives the Sun Devils another talented scoring option. Koopman finished with an incredible 41 goals in her sophomore season, building off a 39-goal rookie campaign. Koopman led the team with 13 multi-goal performances, including a pair of five goal performances over the first four games of the season. She spent the summer gaining experience while competing for the bronze-winning Netherlands World Junior National Team in the FINA World Junior Water Polo Championships. Koopman totaled six goals for the Dutch squad in six tournament games.
Juniors P.J. Allin and Julia Reyes continue to improve throughout their time in Tempe. Both attackers should she increased playing time filling scoring roles left by graduate departures. Allin returns to Tempe after spending the summer competing for the Canadian Women's Junior National Team. Tallied 15 goals on the season in her second year at Arizona State, including recording a career-high three goals on Feb. 11 against UC Davis at the Triton Invitational. Julia Reyes also looks to take advantage of playing time opportunities. Reyes has compiled eight goals so far during her two-year career at ASU. Last season, Reyes made an impact in the match against CSU East Bay, scoring a pair of goals in the Sun Devils 12-5 victory.
Redshirt freshman Cassidy Degraff and freshman Layla Waters represent a bright future at the position for the Sun Devils. Degraff looks to make an impact and crack the lineup after redshirting last season. Meanwhile, Waters comes to ASU after spending four years as a member of the varsity water polo team at Sacred Heart Prep, the final two of which she was named team captain. She helped lead Sacred Heart to four consecutive Central Coast section titles along with a pair of WCAL titles. Received All-West Catholic Athletic League and Central Coast Section first team honors in each of her final three years of high school.
DEFENDERS
Although only two athletes are listed as defenders, expect it to be a team effort on the defense end thanks to the versatility offered by the utility and center position groups. A pair of sophomores represent the two defenders who will be crucial to the success of the Sun Devil's season.
Coming off an incredible freshman campaign where she broke out onto the national scene, Bente Rogge will be key to maintaining the balance that has led to the recent unprecedented success. Rogge had the opportunity to compete as a member of the Dutch National Team at the 12th FINA World Junior Championships. A teammate of fellow current Sun Devil Maud Koopman during the championship, the Dutch team captured the bronze medal with Rogge finishing the tournament with nine goals. Made an instant impact in Tempe, tallying 30 goals in just 26 games as a freshman.
Redshirt sophomore Catherine Simko looks to increase her contributions on the defensive side. After redshirting her first season in Tempe, Simko found her way in the lineup frequently as a reserve last year. Simko finished the campaign with eight goals on the season and provided consistently tough defense, while facing some of the country's highest-powered offenses. She recorded a pair of multi-goal games on the season.
UTILITY
The Utility position group is led by returning senior Kayla Casas, who has been a steadying force for the water polo program throughout her time in Tempe. Casas provides the Sun Devils lineup with consistency and versatility, giving Coach Clapper multiple lineup options. Casas has reached the double-figure goal plateau in each of her previous three seasons as a Sun Devil, culminating with a career-high 14-goal campaign last year. Among her three multi-goal performances on the year, the most clutch of them all was a two-goal effort in a victory over then ranked No. 6 UC Irvine.
Supporting Casas at the position are a pair of freshman that offer a glimpse into the future of how the Sun Devils roster will be constructed in the future. Amira Van Buren was a standout in the pool for Vista Murrieta High School in Murrieta, Calif. A member of her high school's varsity water polo and swim teams beginning in 2013, Van Buren helped her squad make back-to-back playoff appearances. Van Buren claimed first team All CIF honors following her junior season in 2015 after earning third team All CIF recognition in 2014.
Kate Cassidy comes to ASU after a record-setting prep career in Florida. She was named Palm Beach Player of the Year in all four of her high school seasons. Last season Cassidy helped lead Saint Andrew's School to the state quarterfinals, where they fell to Lake Nona. She finished her senior season with 97 goals, 66 Steals, 47 assists and earned 37 kick outs. Currently holds her high school record with 16 goals in a game against Hagerty and holds two other school records for most steals in a game (11) and goals in a season with 117. Completed her junior season with an eye popping 93 goals on 133 attempts, while adding five assists and 50 steals. Following the regular season Cassidy attended the US Junior National Team Selection camp. During her senior season, Cassidy served as the senior team captain for both her swim and water polo teams.
The first regular season action for the 2018 women's water polo team begins Saturday, January 20th when the Sun Devils take on Cal Baptist at 4:30 p.m. as part of the UCSB Winter Invite. The tournament continues for ASU with two games on Sunday, January 21st when the Sun Devils take on Indiana at 10:10 a.m. and later in the day face Michigan at 2:00 pm.
2017 Season Recap:
The 2017 women's water polo season completed yet another successful campaign as one of the most decorated programs in the country. The team spent a majority of the season in the Top-5 of the CWPA poll including climbing as high as fourth, finishing the season as the No. 6 team in the nation. The Sun Devils finished with a 20-7 record, reaching the 20-win plateau for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in program history. ASU took fifth place at the MPSF Championships, finishing only behind the Top-4 nationally ranked teams. The women's water polo team compiled seven wins over teams that finished in the Top-10 teams including two key victories over No. 5 UC Irvine and a win over No. 4 California. Three members of the Sun Devil water polo team were named to the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches 2017 All-America Team. Standout Bente Rogge headlined the trio of Sun Devil honorees earning third-team honors, while Mia Rycraw and Lena Mihailovic earned honorable mention honors. Those same three individuals received MPSF All-Conference honors as well, with Rycraw placing on the first team, Mihailovic on the second team and Rogge getting honorable mention distinction.
2017 ACWPC Academic All-Americans:
| 2017 Women's All-Academic Awards Recipient | Distinction |
| Maud Koopman | Outstanding |
| P.J. Allin | Outstanding |
| Rosie Huck | Outstanding |
| Bente Rogge | Superior |
| Lena Mihailovic | Superior |
| Catherine Simko | Excellent |
| Sophia Burgess | Excellent |
| Ellie Karl | Excellent |
As is typical with the women's water polo program, they enjoyed as much success outside of the pool as they did in it. A total of eight Arizona State Women's Water Polo student-athletes earned recognition by the ACWPC in the 2017 Women's All-Academic Awards. Maud Koopman, P.J. Allin and Rosie Huck were awarded Outstanding honors, which require a GPA of above a 3.70. Lena Mihailovic was honored by the ACWPC for the third time in her career, earning Superior honors in 2017, after receiving Outstanding honors her previous year. Also receiving Superior honors, which requires a G.P.A. above 3.40, is freshman Bente Rogge. Goalkeepers Sophia Burgess and Ellie Karl along with Catherine Simko were awarded with Excellent honors, requiring a GPA at or above a 3.20. Maud Koopman was recognized by CoSIDA for her work in the classroom, awarding her with Academic All-District honors.
Review of the Past Five Season:
The last five seasons have seen the Sun Devil women's water polo program led by head coach Todd Clapper has obtained unprecedented success. ASU has compiled a 100-43 record in that span and have finished in the Top-10 each of those seasons, including three Top-5 finishes in the CWPA poll. They also have taken advantage of playing in front of the home crowd, recording a 29-10 record at home the last five years. Alicia Brightwell had a record setting 2013 campaign, compiling a school record 84 goals and 111 points, which is good enough for second in program history. Brightwell finished with 159 goals during her two-year Sun Devil career, placing her third in school history. Goalie E.B. Keeve anchored an elite defense in 2013, setting the school single season record with 377 saves. Goalie Mia Rycraw saved 66% of the opponent's shots on goal during the 2016 season, setting a single season school record. She also sits third in program history in career saves, career goals against average, and career saves per game. The Sun Devils posted a program-best fourth-place finish in the MPSF Championships and CWPA Final Coaches Poll in 2013. The program climbed as high as No. 3 in the rankings, doing it seven times with the most recent coming on March 6, 2013. The Sun Devils earned the only two NCAA tournament berths in school history in the last five seasons. In the 2016 NCAA Tournament, ASU went 2-1 including an 8-2 victory over UC San Diego in the fifth-place game. It was the second time that ASU finished fifth at the NCAA Championships, defeating UC Irvine 6-5 in their inaugural NCAA tournament appearance. The team has garnered 18 All-America honors since 2013 with two student-athletes receiving first team honors, three earning second team honors, four selected to the third team and nine getting honorable mention distinction. The program also earned its first ever win over national power UCLA, a 7-6 victory over the No. 3 Bruins on March 2, 2013.
SUN DEVIL WATER POLO ALL-AMERICANS:
2017: Bente Rogge, (third), Mia Rycraw (HM), Lena Mihailovic (HM)
2016: Ao Gao (first), Mia Rycraw (first), Abbey Kerth (HM), Maud Koopman (HM)
2015: Izabella Chiappini (third), E.B. Keeve (HM), Alkistis Benekou (HM)
2014: Ao Gao (second), E.B. Keeve (third), Alkistis Benekou (HM), Patra Pardi (HM)
2013: Alicia Brightwell (second), Ao Gao (second), Shannon Haas (third), E.B. Keeve (HM)
2012: Alicia Brightwell (first), Shannon Haas (third), Mariam Salloum (HM)
2011: Sarah Harris (HM), Mariam Salloum (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2010: Sarah Harris (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2009: Addison McGrath (second), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2008: Addison McGrath (first) Kelly Phelps (HM), Caylinn Wallace (HM)
2007: Addison McGrath (HM)
2006: Rowie Webster (third)
2004: Katie Davis (HM)