USC Women’s Water Polo Adds Four Signees for 2019
November 21, 2017 | Women's Water Polo, Features
Sophia Lucas, Grace Tehaney, Erin Tharp and Bayley Weber are set to join the Women of Troy.
USC women's water polo has signed on four new Women of Troy who are now set to officially join the Women of Troy as 2018-19 freshmen, USC head coach Jovan Vavic announced today (Nov. 21). Coming soon to the waters of Uytengsu Aquatics Center are Sophia Lucas, Grace Tehaney, Erin Tharp and Bayley Weber, all of whom have recently signed national letters of intent.
"Our four new additions give us an overall very versatile group that is hard-working, competitive, wants to win, and who can contribute right away to our team," USC head coach Jovan Vavic said. "These four young women give us added depth to our already championship-caliber team, and they will help make our future bright. We really have a balanced class joining us with strengths in two-meter defense, crafty offense, great shooting, an all-around utlity lefty and a quality goalie."
Tehaney, Tharp and Weber all were teammates on the USA Cadet Team that won silver at the 2016 UANA Junior Pan American Championships in Canada.
"A common factor all four women bring to us is a championship pedigree. Each have won in their respective high schools, clubs and national teams," Vavic said of the group. "They understand the sacrifices needed to win, are truly committed in perfecting their craft, and they want to win."
A clever driver out of Laguna Beach High, Sophia Lucas has won two CIF Southern Section championships and earned a spot on the All-CIF First Team in 2017 and the Second Team in 2016. Also an all-league first-teamer in 2017, Lucas has helped her team to three straight league titles.
"Sophia is an extremely fast, explosive, relentless and crafty driver who is capable of doing a lot of things," Vavic said of Lucas. "Whether it's scoring or defending, she has high water polo IQ and is a dangerous transition counterattack player. Sophia is a great one-on-one driver with creativity and wits. She's a thinking player who is always a step ahead."
A Bay Area native, Grace Tehaney hails from Miramonte High in Orinda, Calif., having helped her team to three CIF North Coast Section final appearances and the 2016 title. A two-time All-CIF First Team selection, she was back-to-back league MVP and All-East Bay First Team pick. A versatile lefty, she also is a member of the U.S. Youth National Team.
"Grace is a dangerous lefty attacker with speed and an explosive shot," Vavic said of Tehaney. "She's a scorer as well as a very good utility player. Her effectiveness in posting up with a no-fear attitude will help our offensive attack immensely. She's a dual-threat attacker both at two meters and on the outside. She's also a tough player to guard one-on-one."
Coming to Troy from Corona del Mar High, Erin Tharp stands to step into the cage as one of the top goalies coming out of high school in 2018. The record-holder for single-season saves at CdM with 240 saves hauled in as a junior, Tharp has helped her team win back-to-back league crowns and reach the CIF Southern Section quarterfinals in 2017 and the semis in 2016.
"Erin is a talented goalie with great fundamentals and balance in the cage," Vavic said of Tharp. "She's a gamer. Her speed in the cage directly translates into her blocking, and her ability to read and anticipate shots is very good."
A talented defender, Bayley Weber will come to Troy from Los Alamitos High, where she was a first-team All-CIF, all-league and all-county honoree as a junior. Also league MVP in 2017, Weber competed with the U.S Junior National Team at the 2017 FINA Junior World Championships in Greece. She spent two years at Rosary High, where she was a two-time all-league honoree and named to the All-CIF first team as a sophomore.
"Bayley is arguably one of the top two-way players in this class," Vavic said of Weber. "She is extremely strong and is a tough-as-nails two-meter defender. Her ability to be a physical shut-down defender will help us immediately. Not only does she have strength, her speed will help our transition counter attack tremendously.
"Our four new additions give us an overall very versatile group that is hard-working, competitive, wants to win, and who can contribute right away to our team," USC head coach Jovan Vavic said. "These four young women give us added depth to our already championship-caliber team, and they will help make our future bright. We really have a balanced class joining us with strengths in two-meter defense, crafty offense, great shooting, an all-around utlity lefty and a quality goalie."
Tehaney, Tharp and Weber all were teammates on the USA Cadet Team that won silver at the 2016 UANA Junior Pan American Championships in Canada.
"A common factor all four women bring to us is a championship pedigree. Each have won in their respective high schools, clubs and national teams," Vavic said of the group. "They understand the sacrifices needed to win, are truly committed in perfecting their craft, and they want to win."
A clever driver out of Laguna Beach High, Sophia Lucas has won two CIF Southern Section championships and earned a spot on the All-CIF First Team in 2017 and the Second Team in 2016. Also an all-league first-teamer in 2017, Lucas has helped her team to three straight league titles.
"Sophia is an extremely fast, explosive, relentless and crafty driver who is capable of doing a lot of things," Vavic said of Lucas. "Whether it's scoring or defending, she has high water polo IQ and is a dangerous transition counterattack player. Sophia is a great one-on-one driver with creativity and wits. She's a thinking player who is always a step ahead."
A Bay Area native, Grace Tehaney hails from Miramonte High in Orinda, Calif., having helped her team to three CIF North Coast Section final appearances and the 2016 title. A two-time All-CIF First Team selection, she was back-to-back league MVP and All-East Bay First Team pick. A versatile lefty, she also is a member of the U.S. Youth National Team.
"Grace is a dangerous lefty attacker with speed and an explosive shot," Vavic said of Tehaney. "She's a scorer as well as a very good utility player. Her effectiveness in posting up with a no-fear attitude will help our offensive attack immensely. She's a dual-threat attacker both at two meters and on the outside. She's also a tough player to guard one-on-one."
Coming to Troy from Corona del Mar High, Erin Tharp stands to step into the cage as one of the top goalies coming out of high school in 2018. The record-holder for single-season saves at CdM with 240 saves hauled in as a junior, Tharp has helped her team win back-to-back league crowns and reach the CIF Southern Section quarterfinals in 2017 and the semis in 2016.
"Erin is a talented goalie with great fundamentals and balance in the cage," Vavic said of Tharp. "She's a gamer. Her speed in the cage directly translates into her blocking, and her ability to read and anticipate shots is very good."
A talented defender, Bayley Weber will come to Troy from Los Alamitos High, where she was a first-team All-CIF, all-league and all-county honoree as a junior. Also league MVP in 2017, Weber competed with the U.S Junior National Team at the 2017 FINA Junior World Championships in Greece. She spent two years at Rosary High, where she was a two-time all-league honoree and named to the All-CIF first team as a sophomore.
"Bayley is arguably one of the top two-way players in this class," Vavic said of Weber. "She is extremely strong and is a tough-as-nails two-meter defender. Her ability to be a physical shut-down defender will help us immediately. Not only does she have strength, her speed will help our transition counter attack tremendously.
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