Pioneers Picked to Finish Seventh in WWPA Coaches Poll

  • January 29, 2010

HAYWARD, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay women's water polo team was tabbed to finish seventh in the 2010 Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Coaches' Poll. No. 11 Loyola Marymount was picked to repeat as WWPA champions.

The Pioneers, who begin their first season of play as a Division II program, earned 29 points in the poll, finishing ahead of Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal State San Bernardino and Chapman. Cal State East Bay returns nine players from last season, including its top six leading scorers from the 2009 season. East Bay made its sixth straight appearance at the National Collegiate III Women's Water Polo Championship last year, finishing fifth at the tournament and winning 18 matches on the year.

Loyola Marymount, who returns three All-Americans from last year's title team, earned 80 total points and eight first place votes as it was tabbed to win its eighth WWPA title in 10 years, as voted on by the 10 head coaches of the WWPA. No. 17 Cal State Bakersfield, who earned the other two first place votes, was picked to finish second with 70 total points. No. 18 Santa Clara, UC San Diego and Sonoma State and Colorado State rounded out the top six in the poll.

Among Cal State East Bay's returners are junior driver Mary Rosa and junior two meter Liz Warren, who combined to score 173 of Cal State East Bay's 405 goals last year, and senior utility Jenna Casady, who returns after pacing the 2009 squad with 70 assists to go along with her 56 goals on the year. Each member of the trio collected ACWPC All-America honors for their efforts last season.

The WWPA features 10 women's teams from Divisions I, II and III, located in the Western United States. The WWPA Championships will be held April 30-May 2 at Cal State Bakersfield.

The Pioneers open the 2010 regular season with a tough test this weekend as they head to Berkeley for the Northern California Invitational. East Bay will open the tournament on Saturday against Pacific at 6 p.m., followed by meetings with No. 19 Santa Clara and No. 3 Hawai'i at 3:30 and 6 p.m., respectively, on Sunday. All matches will be played at Cal's Spieker Aquatics Complex.