Anderson Finds Groove as Offensive Facilitator
3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
March 25, 2016
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore Caroline Anderson has become the facilitator of the offense for the No. 8 University of Michigan water polo team this season, leading the team with 50 assists and 83 points.
The 50-assist mark is rare territory in Michigan history as it is only the third time in 16 years a player has recorded 50 or more assists. Anderson has hit the mark in each of her first two seasons. The only other player to do so was Alison Mantel (50) in 2010.
As a freshman Anderson set a school record with 56 assists. Averaging 2.0 assists per game in 2016, she is on pace to break her own mark. She leads the team with 33 more assists than anyone else and has already set the sophomore assist record, passing Mary Chatigny's 43 assists in 2007.
To put it in perspective of what Anderson has been able to accomplish, the fastest a U-M player reached 100 career assists was Alex Adamson in 105 games. Anderson reached 100 assists in just 56 games to shatter that record.
While she certainly put up great numbers as a freshman, Anderson has improved her game in many areas this season to help the U-M offense work like a well-oiled machine.
"My knowledge of the system and understanding of the little details within our plays has put me in a comfort zone where I can work to make the correct reads," said Anderson.
Those reads have helped her notch three or more assists in seven different games this season and score 33 goals to rank third on the team. Part of what makes her so successful is her having an advantage as a left-handed player on the 4-5 side.
"Caroline sees the game from the left-hander side of the pool," said head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi. "With a year under her belt she has taken her game to another level. Sees the pool very well, she knows when it is her shot and she is creative."
The creativity shows in her variety of different shots and shot fakes, but also in her reads of the defense to find the slightest opening and execute a perfect pass.
"With her being a lefty, she passes to our right hands," said junior Danielle Johnson. "That is huge. She has great vision and sees things developing before they develop. Her timing is great and she knows when to get us the ball. Her unique style of play works in our favor."
Defenders typically are used to playing the right hand of the person on the 4-5 side. With Anderson being a left-handed player, she can get the ball out faster for a pass or shot and even find a quick opening on goal while the defense adjusts to her style.
Anderson has a natural talent for water polo, but a year in Michigan's strength and conditioning program has made her even more of a force in the pool.
"Weight training was a shock to me last year because I had never lifted weights prior to college," said Anderson. "It has helped a lot. I am smaller so that strength has really helped me get up out of the water for passing and shooting as well as improve my speed."
Anderson's big numbers have helped Michigan match its highest ranking in school history this year (No. 5) as the Wolverines average 11.16 goals per game. When hearing of all of her assist milestones and records, Anderson tried to shy away from the subject saying, "I don't play for stats so I'm really not aware of all that. I just want to create opportunities for my teammates. I get excited when I set them up or something we worked on in practice clicks and it works in a game."
Outside of the pool Anderson is willing to assist as well. Sophomore goalkeeper Katherine Moore, a teammate and one of Anderson's six roommates mentioned that Anderson is great about helping solve problems.
"I have been friends with her for more than five years now and we have gotten really close," said Moore. "You can always rely on her to be a good mediator and friend. She keeps a level head which is how she is in the water, too. In pressure situations she keeps a level head and that is why she is able to read the defense and make the right decisions."
Anderson's ability to stay calm in those pressure situations and find the best shot has paid dividends. The best example is when she passed up a shot to find an open Heidi Moreland at the two-meter spot for the game-winning goal in sudden-death overtime against No. 9 UC-Irvine.
Of course it isn't the only example of Anderson being unselfish.
"She loves to share her vegetables," said Moore. "She will always share her snap peas with me because she knows I love them too."
That unselfishness is why Anderson will continue to lead Michigan's offense as conference play begins Saturday, April 2, at Indiana.
Communications Contact: Ben Blevins
