TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State University water polo team will host the Chinese National Team at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in Tempe this Sunday, December 10th as part of an exhibition doubleheader. The first opportunity to check out the 2018 squad will be at 9 a.m., when the Sun Devils play the first of two matches, with the second one scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Sun Devils will host the pair exhibition matches, the only two that make up their preseason slate. It is an opportunity for the team to compete and earn valuable experience against international competition before they depart for a trip to Australia that will include match ups against some of Australia's best and brightest talent.
The matchup is just one stop on a tour around the United States for the Chinese National Team. To prepare themselves for the Tokyo Games in three years, the Chinese will face a challenging schedule that will pit them against some of the stiffest competition that the collegiate ranks have to offer such as Stanford, UCLA, California and Princeton.
The exhibition series may be the first opportunity to check out this year's Sun Devil Water Polo team, but it is certainly not the last. Arizona State will host nine other home matches later in the season, including a pair of tournaments.
The Sun Devil's regular season begins on the road, at the UCSB Tournament in Santa Barbara, Calif on January 20th.
Arizona State opens up the home slate by hosting the ASU Cross Conference Challenge starting on Feb. 2nd and running until Feb. 4th. The Sun Devils face four different programs that finished last season ranked in the Top-25 in the span of three days. The home opener will take place Friday, February 2nd at 12 P.M. against Princeton and will conclude with matches against Hawaii, Loyola Marymount and UC San Diego.
The home schedule continues in March after ASU participates in two February California tournaments (@ UCSD & UCI Tournament). The ASU Invitational is scheduled for March 10-11, where ASU takes on Top-25 finisher Indiana and Fresno State in a doubleheader on Saturday. Next, the Devils then take on 2017 NCAA participant Ponoma-Pitzer on Sunday to conclude the nonconference slate.
ASU will open up MPSF play Saturday, March 17th with a home match against 2017 NCAA Tournament semifinalist California. MPSF competition continues the next weekend, with a matchup against another 2017 NCAA semifinalist, the USC Trojans.
Prior to the 2016 season, the ASU schedule did not typically see the Sun Devils in the water at Mona Plummer until March. Fans are welcomed to take advantage of the free admission to this weekend's contests to get their first look at a 2018 roster.
Head Coach Todd Clapper begins his 13th season at the helm for the Sun Devils. He has helped established the Arizona State program as one of the elite teams in the country over the past decade. 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. 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.
Over the last five seasons have seen the Sun Devil women's water polo program 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.
SUN DEVIL WATER POLO ALL-AMERICANS (2013-17):
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)
ASU returns key contributors in Maud Koopman, Bente Rogge, Alkistis Benekou and Lena Mihailovic. Once again, the Sun Devils will rely on star goaltender Mia Rycraw will anchor the defense coming off a summer stint with Team USA at the World University games. Returners P.J. Allin, Rosie Huck, Kayla Casas Catherine Simko and Julia Reyes look to take advantage of increased roles and playing time due to graduation departures. Newcomer Amira Van Buren will be relied upon to make an immediate impact to add depth and balance to the Sun Devil roster.
The action will get underway Sunday morning at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The two squads will play a pair of games on Sunday, the first beginning at 9 a.m. with the second scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Admission is free to the public for both matches.
The Sun Devils will host the pair exhibition matches, the only two that make up their preseason slate. It is an opportunity for the team to compete and earn valuable experience against international competition before they depart for a trip to Australia that will include match ups against some of Australia's best and brightest talent.
The matchup is just one stop on a tour around the United States for the Chinese National Team. To prepare themselves for the Tokyo Games in three years, the Chinese will face a challenging schedule that will pit them against some of the stiffest competition that the collegiate ranks have to offer such as Stanford, UCLA, California and Princeton.
The exhibition series may be the first opportunity to check out this year's Sun Devil Water Polo team, but it is certainly not the last. Arizona State will host nine other home matches later in the season, including a pair of tournaments.
The Sun Devil's regular season begins on the road, at the UCSB Tournament in Santa Barbara, Calif on January 20th.
Arizona State opens up the home slate by hosting the ASU Cross Conference Challenge starting on Feb. 2nd and running until Feb. 4th. The Sun Devils face four different programs that finished last season ranked in the Top-25 in the span of three days. The home opener will take place Friday, February 2nd at 12 P.M. against Princeton and will conclude with matches against Hawaii, Loyola Marymount and UC San Diego.
The home schedule continues in March after ASU participates in two February California tournaments (@ UCSD & UCI Tournament). The ASU Invitational is scheduled for March 10-11, where ASU takes on Top-25 finisher Indiana and Fresno State in a doubleheader on Saturday. Next, the Devils then take on 2017 NCAA participant Ponoma-Pitzer on Sunday to conclude the nonconference slate.
ASU will open up MPSF play Saturday, March 17th with a home match against 2017 NCAA Tournament semifinalist California. MPSF competition continues the next weekend, with a matchup against another 2017 NCAA semifinalist, the USC Trojans.
Prior to the 2016 season, the ASU schedule did not typically see the Sun Devils in the water at Mona Plummer until March. Fans are welcomed to take advantage of the free admission to this weekend's contests to get their first look at a 2018 roster.
Head Coach Todd Clapper begins his 13th season at the helm for the Sun Devils. He has helped established the Arizona State program as one of the elite teams in the country over the past decade. 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. 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.
Over the last five seasons have seen the Sun Devil women's water polo program 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.
SUN DEVIL WATER POLO ALL-AMERICANS (2013-17):
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)
ASU returns key contributors in Maud Koopman, Bente Rogge, Alkistis Benekou and Lena Mihailovic. Once again, the Sun Devils will rely on star goaltender Mia Rycraw will anchor the defense coming off a summer stint with Team USA at the World University games. Returners P.J. Allin, Rosie Huck, Kayla Casas Catherine Simko and Julia Reyes look to take advantage of increased roles and playing time due to graduation departures. Newcomer Amira Van Buren will be relied upon to make an immediate impact to add depth and balance to the Sun Devil roster.
The action will get underway Sunday morning at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The two squads will play a pair of games on Sunday, the first beginning at 9 a.m. with the second scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Admission is free to the public for both matches.