WWPA Weekly Release (Jan. 23) - PDF

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) announced its 2012 preseason coaches poll, and Santa Clara University was picked to finish third in the nine-team league. The Broncos, led by tenth-year head coach Keith Wilbur, have averaged nearly 20 wins per season since 2002.

The Broncos capped off the 2011 season with a 10-6 league record in WWPA play and placed third at the championship tournament. The 2012 season is underway, with SCU having played four ranked opponents through five games thus far.

Returning for 2012 are seniors Laura Espinosa (Mountain View, Calif./Mountain View HS), Marina Allen (Pleasanton, Calif./Amador Valley HS) and Sarah Safir (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos HS). Additionally, sophomore Claire Eadington (Corona Del Mar, Calif./Corona Del Mar HS) was named the 2011 WWPA Freshman of the Year last spring – the first-ever Bronco player to earn that honor. Eadington scored 46 goals and had 40 assists in 34 games.

Santa Clara will be in action four times at UCSB's Winter Invitational this weekend - including opening up conference play with a pair of WWPA games. No. 7 Arizona State will be the first opponent for the Broncos Saturday, Jan. 28 at 9:05 a.m. Games with WWPA rivals SCU Bakersfield (Saturday at 2:30 p.m.) and Sonoma State (Sunday at 1:35 p.m.) will follow. For SCU's complete 2012 schedule click here. 

2012 WWPA Women's Preseason Coaches' Poll  
1. Loyola Marymount – 62 points (6 first place votes)  
2. UC San Diego – 59 points (3)  
3. Santa Clara – 47 points  
4. Colorado State – 40 points  
5. Cal State East Bay – 38 points  
6. Cal State Bakersfield – 31 points  
7. Sonoma State – 23 points  
8. Cal State Monterey Bay – 14 points  
9. Cal State San Bernardino – 10 points