Oct. 31, 2003
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State has become one of the premier women's water polo teams in the country, finishing in the top eight nationally in all nine years they have sponsored the sport. The 2003 season was no exception as the Aztecs finished with a 21-12 record, their best winning percentage in seven years, and ranked sixth in the final American Water Polo Coaches Association poll. Head Coach Carin Crawford enters her sixth season at the helm and is confident the tradition will remain alive and well as they enter into the 2004 season.
"We have the potential for another great season, but we do have some big holes to fill after an outstanding year," said Crawford referring to three departed seniors who accounted for 42% of the teams scoring in 2003. "However, I think we are returning the backbone of the team and we have some young people that are ready to step in and fill those empty positions."
One of the reasons coach Crawford can be so optimistic is undoubtedly senior Holly Hartzell. Hartzell is a three-time All-American selection by the Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Association after scoring 221 goals in her three years with SDSU. Hartzell ranks third on the all-time scoring list and only needs 15 goals in her final campaign to become SDSU's top scorer. However, Holly brings much more to the team than just scoring.
"I don't think there is a player in the country with better skills at the center position," Crawford said. "Holly is an outstanding all-around talent. She not only has quickness and great shot selection on offense, but she is also a great defender, which often gets overlooked because she is such an awesome scorer. She is incredibility talented and creates opportunities for us in many different ways."
Joining Hartzell as co-captain for the 2004 squad is senior Sandy Onweller. In her first year with the Aztecs last season, Onweller was one of the first players off the bench and was the fifth leading scorer on the team. However, Onweller's 23 goals from last season makes her the Aztecs second leading returning scorer behind Hartzell.
"Sandy is really eager to see her role increased," said Crawford. "Due to injuries Onweller started for us at the conference tournament last year and her play was outstanding. She filled in incredibly well and proved to the team that she is ready to be a primary player."
Another senior leader on the team is goalkeeper Ashley Zabel who a year ago started in 25 matches and posted a 6.32 goals against average while recording 196 saves. Zabel will again be called upon to monitor the net for the Aztecs.
"Zabel is a very physically intimitading presence in goal and really came on towards the end of the year," said Crawford. "She has been playing the best water polo of her career and I am really excited about what she can do for us this season."
Senior defender Kristin Moore will solidify the defense as she enters the season with great experience. Moore started in all 32 games she played and will again be relied about to anchor the defense for SDSU.
Chelsy Smith will be another starter for the SDSU squad. Smith enters her senior year as another Aztec playing the best water polo of her career and is eager to show her talents after playing behind some great senior leaders a year ago. Smith registered 16 goals in 2003 and looks to add to those numbers this season.
Three sophomores will fight for the final two starting positions. Savanah Kelley, Taylor Cranney, and Rachel Serna all earned playing time in their freshman campaigns, but are ready to be major contributors this season.
"The three sophomores got great experience a year ago as they were traveling and they got to see the standard that we expect by watching the seniors," Crawford said. "They all have great skills that will add to our team and they will need to play well for us to be successful."
Junior Dominique Delgado will return from off-season shoulder surgery to add another spark and give great depth to the Aztec squad. Delgado is a two-year starter that will give SDSU a threat from the left side.
"We are very excited to get Dominique back to full strength," said Crawford. "She gives us balance and experience and is a very smart, scrappy player."
The final key to the puzzle for the upcoming season is the outstanding recruiting class brought in by Crawford. Four prized recruits, Elana Cervantes, Stacy Werner, Ashley Reta and Sarah Kilgore, will give the Aztecs depth and versatility during the long season.
"The freshmen are incredible and will set the standard high for the type of recruits we want to bring to San Diego State," said Coach Crawford.
Cervantes was a member of the USA Junior National team, Werner has great size, and skill with unlimited potential, while Reta brings offense on the transition and in the front court. Kilgore is a goalkeeper that is very fundamentally sound, with great positioning and anticipation and will challenge Zabel for playing time.
The road will not be easy for the Aztecs as again they will face the top competition in the country every day in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, which has crowned every NCAA National Champion. The Aztecs will visit defending national champion UCLA on April 3, but also have key national contests against Stanford, California, and Long Beach State before traveling to the MPSF Championships on April 30. The winner of the conference tournament will advance to the NCAA Championships on May 8 in Palo Alto.