University Southern California Trojans
Photo by: Juan Lainez
2019 USC WOMEN’S WATER POLO SEASON OUTLOOK
January 18, 2019 | Women's Water Polo, Features
Women of Troy open 2019 ranked No. 1 in the nation and picked No. 1 in the MPSF poll.
For almost a decade now, there's been a fierce title tug-of-war between two teams. The claim to the NCAA women's water polo championship has gone to either USC or Stanford for the past nine seasons. For every tug in the Trojan direction — there's been four titles won by USC in that stretch — the Cardinal have grabbed ahold the next year.
This year, the Women of Troy are gripping even tighter.
At the end of the line this season is a chance for the USC women to do what they've never done before — to claim back-to-back national championships.
The hope is, that ring the Trojans won in 2018 will give the defending champs the extra leverage they need to haul in another NCAA trophy in 2019.
The firepower is most certainly there. In USC's arsenal for 2019 are the MPSF Player and Newcomer of the Year in Amanda Longan and Paige Hauschild, not to mention MPSF and National Coach of the Year Jovan Vavic, who is at the helm of the USC program for the 25th season. Both Longan and Hauschild were First Team All-Americans, while Longan also reigned supreme as the Peter J. Cutino Award winner. And yes, they both are back.
Alongside them are two other All-Americans in juniors Denise Mammolito and Maud Megens, who further highlight a grand total of 11 returning Trojans who were on the NCAA roster in 2018. Gone are three All-Americans who take with them two NCAA championship rings in Brianna Daboub, Victória Chamorro and Hayley McKelvey, but Vavic has great faith in the power of his returners — and his new crop of Trojan talent.
"With our senior captains Amanda and Courtney (Fahey), we really have good leadership," Vavic said of his only two seniors on the roster. "It would be sweet to see our seniors win three titles. It would be great to see them finish on a positive note.
"All the returning players are going to be extra important," Vavic added. "They are approaching it differently. They learned. They know what it takes. And the quality of our players is certainly there."
USC has two U.S. Junior National Team members Grace Tehaney and Bayley Weber and three new international players capped up for their first action as Trojans this year. Australian import Tilly Kearns is joined by Spaniards Alejandra Aznar and Mireia Guiral as the newest Women of Troy. That group is bolstered further by additional new California products who stand out in the Trojan freshman class for an extra depth charge to the USC gameplan.
Aznar's addition bumps USC's set of left-handed shooters to four, with fellow freshman Tehaney also wielding a deft left hand, while returning lefties Verica Bakoc and Sabrina Garabet are already proven sharpshooters.
USC has also brought in reinforcements at 2-meters. The Trojans now have three true centers at the ready in newcomers Guiral and Kearns and sophomore Nina Ceklic. Fahey and Kaylee Brownsberger also were in the mix at set last year.
"We haven't had this depth at 2-meters in a while," Vavic said. "We have people who really know that position and have been playing it all their lives. It's going to help us tremendously."
A powerful presence at set can open up the perimeter, where USC's top guns will be armed and ready to strike. Hauschild was USC's top scorer last year, followed by Denise Mammolito, who is now a junior. Fellow junior Maud Megens also is back, standing out as one of the most dangerous scorers in the world. Add in the firepower of Aznar, and Vavic likes what he's seeing on the offensive end.
"When you look at the outside, Paige, Maud and Alex, those three girls could be three of best shooters out there. Period," Vavic said. "Paige can do so much for us. She's our strongest and fastest player and has the hardest shot. She's the whole package. Alejandra is going to be a force offensively, and Maud is just an all-around outstanding player and is very encouraging to her teammates."
On the opposite side of the pool, Vavic also has growing confidence. No doubt that Cutino Award winner Longan looms large as arguably the best goalie in collegiate waters. She has two rising proteges alongside her in redshirt sophomore Holly Parker and freshman Erin Tharp.
"Amanda has been a backbone since day one for us. She does whatever needs to be done to win, and she wants to make sure the other girls are doing the right things," Vavic said of Longan. "And I like our two backup goalies. Holly is a very talented goalie, and. Erin's a goalie that really wants it."
That trio will back up what is becoming a strong defensive corps, where Hauschild has already proven herself as a relentless defender. So, too, does freshmen Weber and Guiral stand to make a defensive impact alongside returning defensive-savvy Trojans Randi Reinhardt and Mammolito.
"Last year was a breakthrough year for Denise," Vavic said of Mammolito's sophomore campaign in which she delivered a hat trick in the NCAA Championship game. "She began as a more defensive player and now she really can do much more than that."
Mammolito's breakout sophomore season exemplified the raw power being developed into championship-caliber talent at USC. Impact players abound on the Trojan roster, and yet the chemistry within the team is as strong as ever. That rare blend of talent and togetherness was an unstoppable force for USC last season, and looks to be a winning combination for the Trojans in 2019. The season is about to begin, but the goal is already etched into their minds — win back-to-back NCAA titles.
"We have never done it," Vavic said. "For me it's a really great challenge. Personally I hope we can finally do it."
This year, the Women of Troy are gripping even tighter.
At the end of the line this season is a chance for the USC women to do what they've never done before — to claim back-to-back national championships.
The hope is, that ring the Trojans won in 2018 will give the defending champs the extra leverage they need to haul in another NCAA trophy in 2019.
The firepower is most certainly there. In USC's arsenal for 2019 are the MPSF Player and Newcomer of the Year in Amanda Longan and Paige Hauschild, not to mention MPSF and National Coach of the Year Jovan Vavic, who is at the helm of the USC program for the 25th season. Both Longan and Hauschild were First Team All-Americans, while Longan also reigned supreme as the Peter J. Cutino Award winner. And yes, they both are back.
Alongside them are two other All-Americans in juniors Denise Mammolito and Maud Megens, who further highlight a grand total of 11 returning Trojans who were on the NCAA roster in 2018. Gone are three All-Americans who take with them two NCAA championship rings in Brianna Daboub, Victória Chamorro and Hayley McKelvey, but Vavic has great faith in the power of his returners — and his new crop of Trojan talent.
"With our senior captains Amanda and Courtney (Fahey), we really have good leadership," Vavic said of his only two seniors on the roster. "It would be sweet to see our seniors win three titles. It would be great to see them finish on a positive note.
"All the returning players are going to be extra important," Vavic added. "They are approaching it differently. They learned. They know what it takes. And the quality of our players is certainly there."
USC has two U.S. Junior National Team members Grace Tehaney and Bayley Weber and three new international players capped up for their first action as Trojans this year. Australian import Tilly Kearns is joined by Spaniards Alejandra Aznar and Mireia Guiral as the newest Women of Troy. That group is bolstered further by additional new California products who stand out in the Trojan freshman class for an extra depth charge to the USC gameplan.
Aznar's addition bumps USC's set of left-handed shooters to four, with fellow freshman Tehaney also wielding a deft left hand, while returning lefties Verica Bakoc and Sabrina Garabet are already proven sharpshooters.
USC has also brought in reinforcements at 2-meters. The Trojans now have three true centers at the ready in newcomers Guiral and Kearns and sophomore Nina Ceklic. Fahey and Kaylee Brownsberger also were in the mix at set last year.
"We haven't had this depth at 2-meters in a while," Vavic said. "We have people who really know that position and have been playing it all their lives. It's going to help us tremendously."
A powerful presence at set can open up the perimeter, where USC's top guns will be armed and ready to strike. Hauschild was USC's top scorer last year, followed by Denise Mammolito, who is now a junior. Fellow junior Maud Megens also is back, standing out as one of the most dangerous scorers in the world. Add in the firepower of Aznar, and Vavic likes what he's seeing on the offensive end.
"When you look at the outside, Paige, Maud and Alex, those three girls could be three of best shooters out there. Period," Vavic said. "Paige can do so much for us. She's our strongest and fastest player and has the hardest shot. She's the whole package. Alejandra is going to be a force offensively, and Maud is just an all-around outstanding player and is very encouraging to her teammates."
On the opposite side of the pool, Vavic also has growing confidence. No doubt that Cutino Award winner Longan looms large as arguably the best goalie in collegiate waters. She has two rising proteges alongside her in redshirt sophomore Holly Parker and freshman Erin Tharp.
"Amanda has been a backbone since day one for us. She does whatever needs to be done to win, and she wants to make sure the other girls are doing the right things," Vavic said of Longan. "And I like our two backup goalies. Holly is a very talented goalie, and. Erin's a goalie that really wants it."
That trio will back up what is becoming a strong defensive corps, where Hauschild has already proven herself as a relentless defender. So, too, does freshmen Weber and Guiral stand to make a defensive impact alongside returning defensive-savvy Trojans Randi Reinhardt and Mammolito.
"Last year was a breakthrough year for Denise," Vavic said of Mammolito's sophomore campaign in which she delivered a hat trick in the NCAA Championship game. "She began as a more defensive player and now she really can do much more than that."
Mammolito's breakout sophomore season exemplified the raw power being developed into championship-caliber talent at USC. Impact players abound on the Trojan roster, and yet the chemistry within the team is as strong as ever. That rare blend of talent and togetherness was an unstoppable force for USC last season, and looks to be a winning combination for the Trojans in 2019. The season is about to begin, but the goal is already etched into their minds — win back-to-back NCAA titles.
"We have never done it," Vavic said. "For me it's a really great challenge. Personally I hope we can finally do it."
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Water Polo
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/ Women's Water Polo
2M
/ Women's Water Polo
2M
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
D
/ Women's Water Polo
2M
/ Women's Water Polo
D
/ Women's Water Polo
2M
/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
2M
/ Women's Water Polo
DR
/ Women's Water Polo
G
/ Women's Water Polo
UT
/ Women's Water PoloWednesday, April 29
Sunday, April 26
Saturday, April 25
Monday, March 24
