Girls’ Water Polo holds high hopes for new season

Coach: Jerome Chung

Last year’s record: 1-19-1

Recap: The team struggled in the more competitive De Anza League.

Key additions: sophomore Morgan Bruun-Jensen, senior Emma Ford

Key matchups in the upcoming season: Los Gatos, Half Moon Bay

Star players: seniors Sarah Daoudi and Maddie Stuart, sophomore Morgan Bruun-Jensen

Key losses to graduation: Audrey Dang, Vivien Zhang, Aileen Zhang

League: De Anza Division

After a lackluster season in which the girls’ water polo team finished with a 1-19-1 record, the team hopes to rebound and make CCS this year. With experienced seniors like Sarah Daoudi and strong underclassmen like sophomore Morgan Bruun-Jensen, the players are working hard to meet these expectations.

“We came in more prepared and determined to work harder because of our performance last season,” senior Maddie Stuart said. “This has helped us be more efficient at practice and given us a head start against the other teams.”

The varsity girls are currently 2-0 after winning 13-3 against Half Moon Bay and 10-6 against Harker. In the match against Half Moon Bay, Bruun-Jensen managed to score four goals the first quarter and three consecutive goals the fourth quarter.

Stuart also attributed the current success of the team to senior Emma Ford, an experienced newcomer who transferred from Los Gatos this year.

“We're off to a great start,” Stuart said. “The team is really unified this year and everyone gets along super well.”

Also, the team is learning from the previous season and creating new play strategies. The girls are particularly focusing on counter-offense, which Stuart said helped win this season’s first two games.

“After our first two wins, I'm super excited for the rest of the season and I'm sure we'll head to CCS with our unity and drive to succeed,” Stuart said.