VOLOS, Greece – Three current members of the Sun Devil water polo program represented their country at the 12th FINA World Women's Junior Water Polo Championships that took place September 3rd- 9th in Volos Greece. Sophomore Bente Rogge and junior Maud Koopman were part of the bronze medal winning Netherlands U20 Women's National Team. Additionally, junior PJ Allin was selected to compete for the Canadian Women's Junior National Team. This event marked the end of the international season for the Women's National Teams.
Bente Rogge, who was named captain of the Netherlands team, along with Maud Koopman made solid contributions to the bronze medal run for the Dutch. The Dutch went undefeated in Group A play, taking down Russia, Hungary and Japan by a total score of 39-16. Both Sun Devils made their impact felt in the pool, with Rogge scoring six-goals and Koopman tallying a pair of goals in the preliminary round. Rogge recorded a hat trick in a 14-4 rout of Hungary that clinched Group A for the Netherlands.
PJ Allin, the Victoria, B.C. native, was selected as one of thirteen participants to represent the U20 Canadian Women's National Team. The Canadians went 2-1 in Group C, consisting of Italy, Slovakia and Serbia which was good enough for a second-place finish with Allin recording three goals in the three games. In a 14-4 victory over Serbia, Allin netted two goals.
Allin is joined in the tournament by her current Arizona State teammates Bente Rogge and Maud Koopman, who remained teammates as members of the Dutch Junior National Team. Thanks to the respective first and second place finish in their groups, both the Netherlands and Canada advanced past the preliminary round and competed in the final round.
A victory for Canada over New Zealand in their fourth game of the tournament set up a showdown between Canada and the Netherlands for a spot in the tournament semifinals. Maud Koopman netted a pair of goals in the faceoff of Sun Devils to lead the Netherlands past PJ Allin's Canadian squad by a final score of 10-2.
The Dutch team moved on to face the tournament host, Greece, for a berth in the championship match. In a competitive match throughout, the Netherlands would drop the match to Greece by a score of 7-6. Rogge and Koopman led the way for the Dutch, combining for three of the team's six total goals in the match. The Netherlands would bounce back from the loss in the third-place match. Both Sun Devils scored a goal each to push the Netherlands over Spain, earning them a bronze medal.
"Maud and Bente are fantastic players and also great people. I really enjoy watching them play and love coaching them every day. It was fun to see moments where they connected on plays together during the Jr Worlds" Coach Clapper said.
Bente Rogge ended her outstanding competition with nine goals, four steals and three assists in six games. Maud Koopman compiled six goals and five assists in the competition, four of those goals in the three games of the final round. "The Netherlands have a great program and we are fortunate to have two of their best, young players in our program" Coach Clapper stated.
After falling to the Netherlands, Canada dropped two more matches to the United States and Italy. PJ Allin finished the tournament with four goals, four steals and three assists in seven games, leading Canada to an eighth-place finish.
Rogge made an impact in her first season on campus in Tempe. She finished with an impressive 30 goals, which was good for fourth on the team, in 26 games played. Koopman made her second-year count as a member of the Sun Devil water polo program. After scoring an impressive 39 goals as a freshman, Koopman topped that in 2017 when she scored 41 goals in 27 games. Coming off an outstanding sophomore campaign where she netted 15 goals, Allin took advantage of the opportunity to gain valuable experience on the international stage. "PJ has really gained confidence and experience this summer. Not only is she getting better as a player, she is more motivated than ever" Coach Clapper remarked. All three Sun Devils return to the 2017-18 squad looking to build off a 20-7 campaign and a No. 6 ranking in the final poll.
FINA World Women's Junior Championships Final Results:
1. Russia
2. Greece
3. Netherlands
4. Spain
5. United States
6. Hungary
7. Italy
8. Canada
9. China
10. Australia
11. New Zealand
12. Serbia
13. Japan
14. Slovakia
15. South Africa
16. Croatia
Bente Rogge, who was named captain of the Netherlands team, along with Maud Koopman made solid contributions to the bronze medal run for the Dutch. The Dutch went undefeated in Group A play, taking down Russia, Hungary and Japan by a total score of 39-16. Both Sun Devils made their impact felt in the pool, with Rogge scoring six-goals and Koopman tallying a pair of goals in the preliminary round. Rogge recorded a hat trick in a 14-4 rout of Hungary that clinched Group A for the Netherlands.
PJ Allin, the Victoria, B.C. native, was selected as one of thirteen participants to represent the U20 Canadian Women's National Team. The Canadians went 2-1 in Group C, consisting of Italy, Slovakia and Serbia which was good enough for a second-place finish with Allin recording three goals in the three games. In a 14-4 victory over Serbia, Allin netted two goals.
Allin is joined in the tournament by her current Arizona State teammates Bente Rogge and Maud Koopman, who remained teammates as members of the Dutch Junior National Team. Thanks to the respective first and second place finish in their groups, both the Netherlands and Canada advanced past the preliminary round and competed in the final round.
A victory for Canada over New Zealand in their fourth game of the tournament set up a showdown between Canada and the Netherlands for a spot in the tournament semifinals. Maud Koopman netted a pair of goals in the faceoff of Sun Devils to lead the Netherlands past PJ Allin's Canadian squad by a final score of 10-2.
The Dutch team moved on to face the tournament host, Greece, for a berth in the championship match. In a competitive match throughout, the Netherlands would drop the match to Greece by a score of 7-6. Rogge and Koopman led the way for the Dutch, combining for three of the team's six total goals in the match. The Netherlands would bounce back from the loss in the third-place match. Both Sun Devils scored a goal each to push the Netherlands over Spain, earning them a bronze medal.
"Maud and Bente are fantastic players and also great people. I really enjoy watching them play and love coaching them every day. It was fun to see moments where they connected on plays together during the Jr Worlds" Coach Clapper said.
Bente Rogge ended her outstanding competition with nine goals, four steals and three assists in six games. Maud Koopman compiled six goals and five assists in the competition, four of those goals in the three games of the final round. "The Netherlands have a great program and we are fortunate to have two of their best, young players in our program" Coach Clapper stated.
After falling to the Netherlands, Canada dropped two more matches to the United States and Italy. PJ Allin finished the tournament with four goals, four steals and three assists in seven games, leading Canada to an eighth-place finish.
Rogge made an impact in her first season on campus in Tempe. She finished with an impressive 30 goals, which was good for fourth on the team, in 26 games played. Koopman made her second-year count as a member of the Sun Devil water polo program. After scoring an impressive 39 goals as a freshman, Koopman topped that in 2017 when she scored 41 goals in 27 games. Coming off an outstanding sophomore campaign where she netted 15 goals, Allin took advantage of the opportunity to gain valuable experience on the international stage. "PJ has really gained confidence and experience this summer. Not only is she getting better as a player, she is more motivated than ever" Coach Clapper remarked. All three Sun Devils return to the 2017-18 squad looking to build off a 20-7 campaign and a No. 6 ranking in the final poll.
FINA World Women's Junior Championships Final Results:
1. Russia
2. Greece
3. Netherlands
4. Spain
5. United States
6. Hungary
7. Italy
8. Canada
9. China
10. Australia
11. New Zealand
12. Serbia
13. Japan
14. Slovakia
15. South Africa
16. Croatia