University Southern California Trojans
2010 USC Women's Water Polo Outlook
February 26, 2010 | Women's Water Polo
Feb. 26, 2010
Just because you've seen them play for four years now doesn't mean you can stop them.
Step by step, this group of USC women's water polo players has been creeping as close as humanly possible to their collective goal. And this year, charged by a combined force of All-American leadership with an added zing of international experience, the Women of Troy are a championship-minded unit surging toward the top.
The senior class alone could more than hold its own in 2010, but there's more to the Trojan talent pool than USC's five seniors. Senior All-Americans Tumua Anae, Kami Craig and Forel Davies represent an experienced balance of goalkeeping, 2-meter power and defensive prowess that grows only stronger with the inclusion of fellow senior sharp-shooters Alexandra Kiss and Kally Lucas, who are also in their fourth season with the Trojans. And rounding out a fistful of All-Americans on the 2010 USC roster are two more all-around threats in juniors Joelle Bekhazi and Kristen Dronberger.
That group helped the Trojans make it to the NCAA title match for a third time in four seasons last year, coming up a goal shy of the crown in 2009. It's a bitter taste that the Trojans are determined to wipe clean this season. And from top to bottom, the 2010 Women of Troy are up to the task. With head coach Jovan Vavic in his 16th season guiding the USC women and a roster of skilled and savvy players, it's going to be hard for teams to prepare for what the Women of Troy bring to the water this year.
"We are returning some of the best players in the country, girls that are knocking on the door of the Olympics," Vavic said, referring to his crop of national-team-caliber All-Americans Anae, Bekhazi, Craig, Davies and Dronberger. "The talent is certainly there. The biggest thing with us is how we're going to deal with the pressure again. You can see it as a challenge or you can see it as pressure. When we are focused and when we are really helping each other, we can be the best defensive team in the country. We can shut people down. "
Enter All-American goalie Anae and her band of defensive locks Bekazi, Davies and Dronberger. The preparation Anae puts in before even capping up in the cage is matched only by her vision and reflexes in the water. In front of her, Bekhazi, Davies and Dronberger all boast international experience in which they have helped shut down some of the world's best before returning to duty at Troy this season.
That defensive muscle provides a powerful backbone for the Trojan offense, in which Vavic has great confidence this year. Even with the departure of last season's leading scorer Michelle Stein, USC has reloaded with new guns to go along with the improvements among USC's returning battalion of scorers. At two-meters, 2009 Cutino Award winner and 2008 Olympic silver-medalist Kami Craig is quite clearly the focus of much opposing defenses. Backing her up at set is junior Sarah Van Norman, another big name and threat in the hole. The attention they command at the center position means it can be open season on the perimeter for USC's outside artillery. In addition to seniors Kiss and Lucas, Bekazi, Davies and Dronberger also wield powerful arms on the attack to go along with an extensive knowledge of the USC system.
"[Kiss and Lucas] can score 4-5 goals a game any given day. That's how powerful they are in shooting the ball," Vavic said. "Kami is so dangerous offensively that if you fall asleep for a split second, she gets the ball and it's history. It's a luxury to have a player who can just explode and score three goals in three possessions. She can singlehandedly destroy the opponent."
But wait, there's more. Lefty Nadia Dan and Kara-Leigh Huse both return as sophomores with two USC freshmen also lined up to be true impact players this year in Dominique Sardo and Patricia Jancso.
"I don't think the offense is going to be a problem for us," said Vavic, who has also added freshmen Brooke Carpenter, Constance Hiller, Nicolina McCall, Blair Moody and Chelsea Silvers to the roster this season. "We have some good outside shooters and strong 2-meter players. Between Patricia and Dominique and Nadia, we have many players that can put the ball away.
"This year, we have to take water polo to a different level - individually and as a team," Vavic said. "I think we are getting there."
