SYDNEY – Four decorated former Sun Devil Water Polo athletes helped the UNSW Wests Killer Whales capture their first ever Australian Water Polo League Championship at the Sydney Olympic Aquatic Center.
The Killer Whales defeated the defending champion Sydney University Lions, 5-4, in the closely contested Women's OVO Final Series on May 6th. Sun Devil Water Polo alumni Daisy Carter, Alicia Brightwell, Katie Sverchek, and Annabelle Carter carried over the pre-established continuity from their days together in Tempe to become key contributors to the club's first ever Championship.
"It's an amazing feeling" Daisy Carter told Water Polo Australia in a post-match interview. "Seeing all these girls here supporting us who've been at the Club previously and didn't get as lucky as us to be here, it's an awesome feeling."
During a dominant regular season run, the UNSW Wests Killer Whales finished first in the Australian Water Polo League (AWL) with an 18-2 record. Earning a first round bye thanks to their regular season championship, the Killer Whales faced the Fremantle Marlins in a semifinal match-up. Sun Devils accounted for four of the five goals in the 5-3 victory, with Brightwell leading all scorers with a pair of goals while Sverchek and Daisy Carter contributed a goal each.
In the championship match-up against the Sydney University Lions, the UNSW Wests Killer Whales fell behind 4-3 after one period. One win away from the clubs first ever AWL Championship, a pair of Sun Devils lead the comeback charge in the Final Series. Alicia Brightwell scored her third goal of the playoffs in the first, helping keep the score tied at four through three periods. It would come down to the fourth period, with the championship on the line and the Killer Whales in need of an offensive spark. Insert club co-captain Daisy Carter, who did what she had done all season, come up big in a crucial situation for the Killer Whales. Carter, who finished fifth in the AWL with 41 goals, continued her knack for finding the back of the net in the postseason. With under three minutes left, Daisy Carter scored what would be the game-winning goal to put her team up 5-4. Coming through with one of the most clutch goals in club history, Carter cemented herself as a part of AWL lore. The defense of the Killer Whales would hold on to secure the club's first ever victory in the Final Series.
"A win like that, against a team like that it's amazing" Carter added in the interview with Water Polo Australia. "It's such a good feeling to know we all came together to beat a quality team like Sydney Uni Lions."
The AWL Scoring leader board was littered with former Sun Devils that made a significant impact for the UNSW Wests Killer Whales on their championship run. Daisy Carter played in all 22 matches in 2018, leading the way with 41 goals, placing her fifth in the AWL in goals. Alicia Brightwell also finished in the AWL Top-20 with her 31 goals, playing in all 22 matches. Katie Sverchek contributed 12 goals despite missing three matches during the regular season. Annabelle Carter added six goals of her own, providing a strong defensive presence for the Killer Whales.
Brightwell (2012-13) and Annabelle Carter (2010-12) were teammates on the 2012 team that won 25 matches, which was a school record at the time. Brightwell's second season at Arizona State also overlapped the careers of her current teammates Daisy Carter and Katie Sverchek, who were freshman on the 2013 squad that re-set the program record for victories. The trio led the Sun Devils to a historical 26-7 record, including victories over Top-Five programs in California and UCLA.
The four Sun Devils on UNSW Wests Killer Whales left their mark on the Sun Devil Water Polo program and record book. Alicia Brightwell set the single-season goal record in 2013, scoring an incredible 84 goals. She holds two of the top three highest goal scoring seasons in program history, tallying 75 goals in her first season in Tempe. Annabelle Carter's 77 career assists in her three seasons at Arizona State places her seventh in school history. Daisy Carter capped an outstanding four-year career with a 39-goal campaign as a senior. Katie Sverchek finished her Sun Devil career with 103 points and 70 steals, competing at a high-level at both ends of the pool.
Stay tuned to the website and our social media accounts for updates on current and former members of the Sun Devil Water Polo program as they compete throughout the world this summer.
The Killer Whales defeated the defending champion Sydney University Lions, 5-4, in the closely contested Women's OVO Final Series on May 6th. Sun Devil Water Polo alumni Daisy Carter, Alicia Brightwell, Katie Sverchek, and Annabelle Carter carried over the pre-established continuity from their days together in Tempe to become key contributors to the club's first ever Championship.
"It's an amazing feeling" Daisy Carter told Water Polo Australia in a post-match interview. "Seeing all these girls here supporting us who've been at the Club previously and didn't get as lucky as us to be here, it's an awesome feeling."
During a dominant regular season run, the UNSW Wests Killer Whales finished first in the Australian Water Polo League (AWL) with an 18-2 record. Earning a first round bye thanks to their regular season championship, the Killer Whales faced the Fremantle Marlins in a semifinal match-up. Sun Devils accounted for four of the five goals in the 5-3 victory, with Brightwell leading all scorers with a pair of goals while Sverchek and Daisy Carter contributed a goal each.
In the championship match-up against the Sydney University Lions, the UNSW Wests Killer Whales fell behind 4-3 after one period. One win away from the clubs first ever AWL Championship, a pair of Sun Devils lead the comeback charge in the Final Series. Alicia Brightwell scored her third goal of the playoffs in the first, helping keep the score tied at four through three periods. It would come down to the fourth period, with the championship on the line and the Killer Whales in need of an offensive spark. Insert club co-captain Daisy Carter, who did what she had done all season, come up big in a crucial situation for the Killer Whales. Carter, who finished fifth in the AWL with 41 goals, continued her knack for finding the back of the net in the postseason. With under three minutes left, Daisy Carter scored what would be the game-winning goal to put her team up 5-4. Coming through with one of the most clutch goals in club history, Carter cemented herself as a part of AWL lore. The defense of the Killer Whales would hold on to secure the club's first ever victory in the Final Series.
"A win like that, against a team like that it's amazing" Carter added in the interview with Water Polo Australia. "It's such a good feeling to know we all came together to beat a quality team like Sydney Uni Lions."
The AWL Scoring leader board was littered with former Sun Devils that made a significant impact for the UNSW Wests Killer Whales on their championship run. Daisy Carter played in all 22 matches in 2018, leading the way with 41 goals, placing her fifth in the AWL in goals. Alicia Brightwell also finished in the AWL Top-20 with her 31 goals, playing in all 22 matches. Katie Sverchek contributed 12 goals despite missing three matches during the regular season. Annabelle Carter added six goals of her own, providing a strong defensive presence for the Killer Whales.
Brightwell (2012-13) and Annabelle Carter (2010-12) were teammates on the 2012 team that won 25 matches, which was a school record at the time. Brightwell's second season at Arizona State also overlapped the careers of her current teammates Daisy Carter and Katie Sverchek, who were freshman on the 2013 squad that re-set the program record for victories. The trio led the Sun Devils to a historical 26-7 record, including victories over Top-Five programs in California and UCLA.
The four Sun Devils on UNSW Wests Killer Whales left their mark on the Sun Devil Water Polo program and record book. Alicia Brightwell set the single-season goal record in 2013, scoring an incredible 84 goals. She holds two of the top three highest goal scoring seasons in program history, tallying 75 goals in her first season in Tempe. Annabelle Carter's 77 career assists in her three seasons at Arizona State places her seventh in school history. Daisy Carter capped an outstanding four-year career with a 39-goal campaign as a senior. Katie Sverchek finished her Sun Devil career with 103 points and 70 steals, competing at a high-level at both ends of the pool.
Stay tuned to the website and our social media accounts for updates on current and former members of the Sun Devil Water Polo program as they compete throughout the world this summer.