June 2, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - Vicki Gorman, the Arizona State water polo team's head coach, announced Monday the signing of four prep standouts. Lindsay Fraka (San Jose, Calif.), Jessica McDaniel (Modesto, Calif.), Raelyn Ritchie (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Sarah Vass (Mission Viejo, Calif.) have signed National Letters of Intent and will join early signee Katie Hedly (Lake Forest, Calif.) on the 2004 roster for the Sun Devils.
"Overall, I think the personality and character traits these five girls bring to the program are going to strengthen the team dynamic we already posses," Gorman said. "I think we will be significantly faster than we were this past season. The level of commitment and desire to win these freshmen have, combined with our returning players, will only help us build upon the recent success and momentum the program has achieved. We are very excited about the future of Sun Devil water polo with the addition of these five recruits."
Fraka earned three letters in water polo and four in swimming for Presentation High School and capped her career with a 73-goal effort as senior by scoring at least one goal in each of her team's games. The team's MVP as a senior, Fraka earned conference recognition as the Blossom Valley Athletic League's Sophomore and Junior of the Year. Fraka and her teammates went on to place ninth in the Central Coast Section.
"Lindsay will be very important player for us because she comes in as our only left-handed player on the team," Gorman said. "Having a left-hander enables you to do a little bit more with your offense. Right now, she is a very good playmaker and reads when she needs to pass or shoot very well."
McDaniel comes to Tempe by way of Fred C. Beyer High School in Modesto, Calif., where she earned three letters in water polo and four in swimming. A member of the Junior and Senior National teams and the Junior Olympic program, McDaniel earned league honors three times in her career and was named team MVP as a freshmen, junior and senior. A highly decorated water polo player, McDaniel also won two individual freestyle conference championships as well as assisting two relays to gold.
"Jessica is another player that will add depth to our program, especially in the area of speed," Gorman said. "She is a very smart driver. With her being surrounded by players that will challenger her here at ASU, she will become a player we can rely on to create scoring chances not only for the team, but for herself."
Ritchie was a four-year member and two-year letterwinner for the Newport Harbor High School team that claimed the Sea View League championships in water polo in 2000, 2001 and 2002. As the starting goalie for the 1999-2000 season, Ritchie helped her team to an undefeated season. As a one-time letterwinner in swimming, she captured the junior varsity 500 freestyle and then took home gold in the 200 freestyle at the league championships in 2002.
"Raelyn is a tall, strong and physical player and has played against some of the best two-meter offensive players in the nation in her own high school league," Gorman said. "I have no doubt that she will be able to come in and make a significant contribution to the program."
Vass joins the Sun Devils after a superb senior season at Mission Viejo High School in which she led her team and the South Coast League in scoring. A four-year letterwinner in both water polo and swimming, Vass captained and was named team MVP as a junior and senior with the water polo squad. Vass also added all-county honors as a senior and was a member of the zone team in during her junior campaign.
"She is going to develop into a very important player for us in terms of our depth on offense," Gorman said. "Her biggest asset is her speed and her enthusiasm for the sport. She understands she will need to learn a lot before she can have the impact on the program that we feel she will. She has the potential to be an impact player and a leader on the defensive end of the pool."
The Sun Devils will enter the 2004 season coming off their finest year in the two-year history of the program. Owners of a national No. 19 ranking at the end of the 2003 campaign, ASU went 20-18 and spent nearly the entire year ranked among the top teams in the nation, climbing as high as No. 18 in the polls.