MPSF Coaches Favor Stanford in 2015
Jan. 7, 2015 2015 MPSF Women's Water Polo Coaches' Poll
Stanford collected the maximum possible 36 points and six first-place votes in finishing at the top of the 2015 MPSF Women's Water Polo Coaches' Poll. The Cardinal have not lost an MPSF game since 2009, a stretch of 33 straight regular season conference outings, and claimed both the MPSF and NCAA Championships last year. They return four of their top-five scorers, including first-team All-Americans Kiley Neushul and Maggie Steffens, who combined for 102 goals in 2014. Also back for Stanford is goalkeeper Gabby Stone, owning a 5.91 goals-against average last year. UCLA placed second in the poll with 31 points and picked up the only other first-place vote. The Bruins were 2014 conference and national runners-up, and welcome back Emily Donohoe and Rachel Fattal, who were amongst the conference scoring leaders last year. All-American goalkeeper and 2014 MPSF Player of the Year Sami Hill returns to the cage, coming off an MPSF best 5.02 goals-against average season. USC returns three All-Americans in Monica Vavic, Eike Daube, and Stephania Haralabidis from last year's third-place NCAA finish, and was third in the poll with 26 points. California was picked in the middle of the field with 20 points. All-Americans Dora Antal and Roser Tarrago both were amongst the top-five scorers in the MPSF a year ago. Arizona State (16), San Jose State (12) and CSU Bakersfield (6) rounded out the eighth annual coaches' poll. The Sun Devils come off a first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament, returning 13 players and three All-Americans from that team, including MPSF saves per game leader E.B. Keeve. The Spartans return their top-five scorers from a team which set a single-season school record 393 goals, 96 from MPSF scoring leader Clara Espar Llaquet. All-MPSF honoree Janelle Shelby is back for the Roadrunners, as is Courtney Wahlstrom from a 310-save season.
Opening weekend of the 2015 season is January 16-18, before MPSF Conference competition begins March 1. Arizona State is this year's site of the MPSF Championship Tournament (April 24-26). That weekend's champion earns automatic entry to the NCAA Tournament, hosted by Stanford, May 8-10. Since the inaugural season of NCAA Women's Water Polo in 2001, the MPSF has captured all 14 national championships.