Water Polo Summer Update
7/15/2019 10:47:00 AM | Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan water polo team had several student-athletes compete in events in California and Italy in late June and early July, with one Wolverine currently in action in South Korea.
Senior Nationals
The Wolverines had 10 student-athletes travel to San Diego, California, to compete in the USA Water Polo Senior Nationals, July 12-14. The group won three of its five games to finish in 11th place overall. U-M picked up wins over the Olympic Club (11-5), the Red Fox (11-5) and Mexico (9-4).
Michigan started the tournament with a shootout loss to the Rose Bowl Club. After regulation ended with the score tied at 11, U-M missed two attempts in a penalty shootout and fell, 3-1. The Wolverines also came up short against Santa Barbara 805 by a final of 11-8.
Rising junior Maddie O'Reilly and rising senior Skyler Pyle led the group on offense. O'Reilly scored 19 goals and collected nine assists in five games. Pyle added 12 goals, six assists and five steals. Rising sophomore Erin Neustrom had four multi-goal games to tally eight goals.
In the cage, rising sophomore Sophie Jackson made 29 saves and allowed 14 goals. Rising senior Heidi Ritner compiled 19 saves, while allowing 22 goals.
World University Games
Morrant
Three Michigan student-athletes competed at the World University Games, which took place July 2-14 in Naples, Italy.
Rising sophomore Ava Morrant helped Canada place fourth overall. The Maple Ridge, British Columbia, native scored three goals in the tournament as Canada won four games and lost three. The highlight of the tournament was a 10-9 thrilling victory over Team USA in the quarterfinals.
Rising junior Sofie Pontré and rising sophomore Abby Andrews were chosen to represent Australia. The Uniroos placed fifth overall after they defeated Japan, 11-10. Pontré tallied four goals and one assist, while Andrews contributed four goals and three assists.
FINA World Championships
Maddy Steere, chosen to be part of the Australia National Team on July 5, is competing at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, until July 28.
Steere was a member of the Aussie Stingers squad that placed fifth at the World League Super Final in Budapest, Hungary, in early June. She continued to train with the national team and was selected for the final major tournament before the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
