Trojans Make Waves In International Action

USC water polo players past and present have had a busy start to their summers, engaging in international competition for club and country and picking up some hardware along the way. To set the bar high for the summer action overseas, five Women of Troy snagged medals playing for their countries at the FINA Women's World League Super Final in China. Days later, former Trojan Kostas Genidounias went big and helped lead his Greek club Olympiacos to the Champions League title — a massive achievement in the world of professional water polo. After that, USC had four men competing at the FINA Men's World League Super Final in Hungary.

Kostas Genidounias, who won three NCAA championships and was a Cutino Award winner at USC, stood out as Olympiacos' top scorer this season en route to the epic upset of perennial Italian power Pro Recco in the Champions League final — played in Genoa, Italy, on June 9.

That was just a week before USC had nine Women of Troy close down competition at the FINA Super Final in China. Gold medals were picked up by four Trojans — 2018 NCAA Champion Paige Hauschild, 2016 NCAA Champions Brigitta Games and Stephania Haralabidis and 2013 NCAA Champion and 2018 Olympian Kaleigh Gilchrist — playing for the United State. team USA had edged out the Netherlands in the title match, give 2018 NCAA Champion Maud Megens a silver medal at the event. A Dutch standout for USC and for her country, Megens finished the tournament as the top scorer overall with 15 goals. Her 2018 USC teammate Hauschild, meanwhile, plugged in six for Team USA, while Games and Haralabidis added five each and Gilchrist tallied four in picking up her fourth FINA Super Final gold.

Not far behind Megens on the scoring front was former Trojan Anni Espar — a 2013 NCAA Champion at USC — who provided 13 goals for Spain in its run to a fifth-place finish at the event. Fourth-place Canada had two USC stars on its roster in two-time NCAA champion Hayley McKelvey and 2010 NCAA champ Joelle Bekhazi. Each Trojan scored two goals apiece for Team Canada. Another 2013 NCAA champ and 2018 Olympian, Hannah Buckling, was back in action with Australia, which finished seventh overall as Buckling pumped in five goals for the Aussies.

Back on the men's side of the game, USC was represented by four Trojans at the FINA Men's Super Final, held in Hungary last week. Three Trojans were capped up for Team USA, with 2018 Olympian McQuin Baron manning the cage with USC sophomore Marko Vavic and incoming freshman Hannes Daube in the field. The U.S. squad turned heads by winning their group, upsetting Spain and Croatia during group play, and would wind up with a seventh-place finish at the event. Baron had two games with double-digit saves, including a cloth penalty stop against Croatia. Daube punched up seven goals for Team USA, including a hat trick in a win over Kazakhstan during group play, while Vavic scored twice. Australia, meanwhile, worked its way to a sixth-place finish thanks in part to the efforts of Blake Edwards, who — along with Baron — just finished his USC playing career.

There's plenty more overseas action coming up this summer for USC's international contingent. Stay tuned!

Players Mentioned

McQuin Baron

Blake Edwards

Brigitta Games

Stephania Haralabidis

Paige Hauschild

Hayley McKelvey

Maud Megens

Marko Vavic