The girl’s water polo team (2-1)* is back with a splash. After a tough spring season marred with COVID-19 issues and a lack of players, the team is looking better than ever.
“[Last] … season was a doozy,” said Coach Kielan Crow. “We had [around] 14 players total, [so] … we barely had enough to run two teams. We also had players who couldn’t be in the pool for multiple weeks at a time because I didn’t have access to the pool [and] … it was too dangerous [because of] COVID.”
There was a positive case on the swim team, which many of the water polo players are also a part of. This forced the water polo team into a two-week quarantine just before the season began.
“[We] had one practice before our first game,” Crow said. “We weren’t set up as a team [and] we couldn’t effectively run any of our game plans. But as usual, given time, we improved, so the second half of the season we improved a lot against all of our competitors and won a couple games.”
This season couldn’t be more different, with quality preseason training and a 11-5 win in their first match against Sequoia on Sept. 8. Co-captain and senior utility attacker Ruby Vogel thinks this victory was due to the experience of this year’s
team, which has eight seniors.
“We really bonded this season as a team … because [we’ve all known] each other … for years now”
Chemistry has also contributed to the team’s recent success.
“I think our team is really awesome with communication,” Vogel said. “We really bonded this season as a team … because [we’ve all known] each other … for years now.”
Leadership and communication are critical if the players are to execute Crow’s strategies.
“I’m a big fan of pressure defense,” Crow said. “You’re focusing on … pressuring [every player on] the team [and] you’re trying to push them out of the offensive area. … I want all my defenders on the outside wrestling and … pushing them out of the pool.”
According to Coach Crow, a key part of this strategy is a good defender.
“When you have a good two-meter … defender who can front, that means stay between the ball and the two-meter player, then you can just press out everywhere and you don’t need to worry about coming back to double team the set player,” Crow said. “Maddie Dobbs, one of our captains, is a fantastic set defender so we’re able to run a good press defense.”
With the team running smoothly, they set a couple of goals for the season.
“[We] want to win a bunch and do a lot better than we did last season,” said senior co-captain and defender Maddie Dobbs. “Last season was really hard because of COVID. … We weren’t playing as a team.”
Playing well and bonding are top priorities, but Crow is aiming even higher.
“[We] did a lot of preparation in the preseason and our goal is to get into that second or third spot for Central Coast Section,” Crow said. “We haven’t been there since the year before I came in.”
Coach Crow believes that the games against Burlingame and Woodside will be matches to watch out for.
“We had a scrimmage against [Burlingame] last week and they are very well matched for us,” Crow said. “They have a good driving offense like us so that’s a really fun game to watch. … [Woodside] is the other team in the hunt for that second spot.”
“We know [Carlmont has] some really great players … so … we wanted to come in … guns blazing”
On Sept. 22, the team showcased its strengths in a dazzling 13-3 victory over Carlmont (0-1)*. The team scored eight goals before Carlmont replied.
“We know [Carlmont has] some really great players … so … we wanted to come in … guns blazing,” Vogel said.
The team also successfully implemented a new counter- attacking strategy for the Carlmont game.
“Our first … eight goals were counter-shots,” Vogel said.
Not only did the Dons excel on the offense, but they also kept defense tight in the back.
“One thing we did well was our press defense,” Dobbs said. “We … shut them down.”
Overall it was a cohesive team effort and performance.
“Everyone shot at least once which is … great,” Dobbs said.
The Dons have their next home game against Sequoia (0-2)* on Oct. 6 at 4 p.m.
*Records as of Sept. 27
