TAIPEI, Taiwan – Three athletes with ties to the Arizona State University women's water polo program, one former and two current student-athletes, have been selected to represent their country in the 2017 World University Games (Summer Universiade). Rising senior goalkeeper Mia Rycraw is one of 13 athletes that have been named to the USA Women's Water Polo roster. Junior center Rosie Huck will represent Great Britain while former Sun Devil attacker Daisy Carter was chosen to represent Team Australia (Australian Uniroos). The event is set to take place from August 18th-30th in Taipei, Taiwan.
"The University Games are very unique because it is the international event that is the most similar to the Olympic Games," said Coach Clapper. "The athletes stay in a village with the athletes from all of the other sports. I hope that this gives Mia a taste of what's possible for her in three years' time."
Rycraw, a native of Walnut, California, will get the opportunity to compete with some of the top talent in the sport. The 2017 ACWPC Third Team All-American is coming off a superb junior campaign that also resulted in First Team All-MPSF honors. Rycraw accounted for 202 saves on the season, tied with USC's Amanda Logan for the most in the conference. She anchored a defense that allowed a total of 169 goals in 27 games, good for a 6.26 goals against average, a mark that ranked fourth in the MPSF.
"This has been the best summer for ASU water polo" said Head Coach Todd Clapper. "Many of our returning team members have been playing for their national teams. This will be her second tour this summer with Team USA, which is the best team in the world."
Huck, a native of Manchester, England, returns to the English squad after winning the 2017 EU Nations Cup Senior championship. Huck previously won a Gold medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Aberdeen. Huck also captained the Great Britain U17 team at the 2013 European Junior Championships in Istanbul and was the youngest player on the roster at the 2014 European Water Polo Championships in Budapest. Huck followed a standout 12-goal rookie season at Arizona State with 14 goals in her sophomore campaign.
"After the London Olympics, the funding for the Senior teams of Great Britain was eliminated," Clapper added. "Now there is a drive to reestablish the program and this will be the first major event for the senior team in several years. Really proud of Rosie to be a big part of this effort. After having a great sophomore year, this experience will only help her to continue to progress as a player and a leader."
Daisy Carter played at Arizona State for four years (2013-16) where she developed into an offensive force. Carter scored 77 goals during her career in Tempe, but she saved her best season for last. After scoring 38 goals total in her previous three seasons on campus, Carter compiled 39 goals in 27 games in her senior campaign. "I think that Daisy might be one of the most improved players ever at ASU. Her dedication and progress at ASU inspired others to train and compete harder, as well" Coach Clapper remarked. "Since she really hit her stride in her final two seasons here, it makes me very happy and proud that she is continuing to compete at a high level. What an amazing experience for Daisy to represent Team Australia at the University Games." This is the second consecutive Summer Universiade that will feature an athlete from Arizona State on the Australian Uniroos as senior attacker Lena Mihailovic represented her country in the 2015 games in Gwangju, South Korea. Mihailovic scored a penalty shootout goal against Canada to help Australia capture their first Gold Medal in water polo at the World University Games.
The World University Games, or Universiade, is an international sporting and cultural event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). It is the second largest international athletic event in the world. The event features incoming prospects, current student-athletes and recent college graduates participating in 17 sports from over 170 countries. The Summer Universiade incorporates educational and cultural aspects into 12 days of sports competitions, allowing university student-athletes from all over the world to enjoy the host city with an event-wide emphasis on friendship and sportsmanship. It is held every two years in a different city, with past host cities including Gwangju, South Korea and Kazan, Russia.
A total of 12 countries were selected participate in the women's tournament with the teams split into two pools of six teams. The United States and Australia are joined by Greece, France, Italy and Argentina in pool B, while Great Britain is part of Pool A. Pool play begins August 18th when the United States takes on France and Australia faces off with Greece. The two teams will face-off in pool play on August 22nd at the Songshan S.C. Swimming Pool at 2 a.m. PT. In Pool A action, Great Britain will play Russia on August 18th in their opening game.
"The University Games are very unique because it is the international event that is the most similar to the Olympic Games," said Coach Clapper. "The athletes stay in a village with the athletes from all of the other sports. I hope that this gives Mia a taste of what's possible for her in three years' time."
Rycraw, a native of Walnut, California, will get the opportunity to compete with some of the top talent in the sport. The 2017 ACWPC Third Team All-American is coming off a superb junior campaign that also resulted in First Team All-MPSF honors. Rycraw accounted for 202 saves on the season, tied with USC's Amanda Logan for the most in the conference. She anchored a defense that allowed a total of 169 goals in 27 games, good for a 6.26 goals against average, a mark that ranked fourth in the MPSF.
"This has been the best summer for ASU water polo" said Head Coach Todd Clapper. "Many of our returning team members have been playing for their national teams. This will be her second tour this summer with Team USA, which is the best team in the world."
Huck, a native of Manchester, England, returns to the English squad after winning the 2017 EU Nations Cup Senior championship. Huck previously won a Gold medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Aberdeen. Huck also captained the Great Britain U17 team at the 2013 European Junior Championships in Istanbul and was the youngest player on the roster at the 2014 European Water Polo Championships in Budapest. Huck followed a standout 12-goal rookie season at Arizona State with 14 goals in her sophomore campaign.
"After the London Olympics, the funding for the Senior teams of Great Britain was eliminated," Clapper added. "Now there is a drive to reestablish the program and this will be the first major event for the senior team in several years. Really proud of Rosie to be a big part of this effort. After having a great sophomore year, this experience will only help her to continue to progress as a player and a leader."
Daisy Carter played at Arizona State for four years (2013-16) where she developed into an offensive force. Carter scored 77 goals during her career in Tempe, but she saved her best season for last. After scoring 38 goals total in her previous three seasons on campus, Carter compiled 39 goals in 27 games in her senior campaign. "I think that Daisy might be one of the most improved players ever at ASU. Her dedication and progress at ASU inspired others to train and compete harder, as well" Coach Clapper remarked. "Since she really hit her stride in her final two seasons here, it makes me very happy and proud that she is continuing to compete at a high level. What an amazing experience for Daisy to represent Team Australia at the University Games." This is the second consecutive Summer Universiade that will feature an athlete from Arizona State on the Australian Uniroos as senior attacker Lena Mihailovic represented her country in the 2015 games in Gwangju, South Korea. Mihailovic scored a penalty shootout goal against Canada to help Australia capture their first Gold Medal in water polo at the World University Games.
The World University Games, or Universiade, is an international sporting and cultural event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). It is the second largest international athletic event in the world. The event features incoming prospects, current student-athletes and recent college graduates participating in 17 sports from over 170 countries. The Summer Universiade incorporates educational and cultural aspects into 12 days of sports competitions, allowing university student-athletes from all over the world to enjoy the host city with an event-wide emphasis on friendship and sportsmanship. It is held every two years in a different city, with past host cities including Gwangju, South Korea and Kazan, Russia.
A total of 12 countries were selected participate in the women's tournament with the teams split into two pools of six teams. The United States and Australia are joined by Greece, France, Italy and Argentina in pool B, while Great Britain is part of Pool A. Pool play begins August 18th when the United States takes on France and Australia faces off with Greece. The two teams will face-off in pool play on August 22nd at the Songshan S.C. Swimming Pool at 2 a.m. PT. In Pool A action, Great Britain will play Russia on August 18th in their opening game.