Santa Barbara's quest for third straight title part of exciting 3C2A Women's Water Polo Championship Tournament
Tournament Headquarters (live video [BAOSN], scores, photos, recaps) l Tournament Program
LONG BEACH - Santa Barbara City College is seeking that rarest of sports commodities: a championship three-peat. The two-time defending champions may be the south’s No. 2 seed, but they still have a target on the back of their suits. South No. 1 Long Beach City has been ranked at the top of the CCCWPCA Top Ten for most of the year and the Vikings are extremely physical and loaded with a wealth of scorers and keepers. West Valley is the north No. 1 seed and is on a roll, having upset top-seeded Sierra in the NorCal finals. As the 3C2A Women’s State Championship tournament looms, let’s take a look at the teams filling the brackets at Long Beach.
North No. 1 West Valley: 27-6, Coast Conference champions
State championships: one, in 2021
The Vikings won their 5th-straight NorCal title and may be playing their best polo of the season. Bella Raynes leads the team with 100 goals, 38 assists and 36 steals, while Mia Sickler-Lopez (56), Marte Skibba (56) and Sofia Orlandi Lazzarini (54) also surpassed the 50-goal mark. Orlandi Lazzarini has a team-high 60 assists, while Sickler-Lopez leads the Vikings with 43 steals. Goalkeeper Kayla Tweed is 27-5 with 235 saves (55.7%).
South No. 1 Long Beach City: 36-2, South Coast Conference champions
State championships: three, last one in 2006
The Vikings feature one of the state’s top utility players in Olivia Slavens, who has 94 goals, 49 assists and 79 steals. Mar Bernal (59) and Madalyn Barley (51) also topped the 50-goal mark. Three Viking netminders recorded ten or more wins: Avery Reyes (13-1), Coryn Cavecche (10-0) and Janay Robertson (10-0). The Vikings come into the tournament with a reputation for physical play and brick-wall defense.
North No. 2 Sierra: 27-6, Big 8 Conference champions
State championships: one, in 2018
The Wolverines have been an offensive juggernaut in 2024, with Bailey Hollick (128 goals), Makenna Perez (97) and Heidi Green (78) lighting up scoreboards. Hollick also enters the tourney with 52 assists and 53 steals, while Perez has 45 assists and 47 steals, and Green recorded 53 assists and 54 steals. Goalkeeper Tui Arama is 24-6 with 284 saves (60.8%).
South No. 2 Santa Barbara City: 30-6, Western State Conference champions
State championships: three, won it all in 2022 and 2023
As mentioned earlier, the Vaqueros are the two-time defending champions and are eager to win a third-straight. SBCC is led by Cate Daland, who enters the tournament with 93 goals, 21 assists and 37 steals. Addie Lane is a threat on offense and defense, recording 88 goals, 38 steals, and 78 steals. Maddie Meyers is similar, coming into the championships with 63 goals, 31 assists and 55 steals. Lily Carrick leads the state with 97 assists. Kate Dunsmore is one of the 3C2A’s top netminders, going 30-6 so far with 264 saves (61.7%).
North No. 3 San Joaquin Delta: 25-12, Big 8 Conference runner-up
State championships: looking for their first state championship
The Mustangs, regular state tournament participants, bring to Long Beach an experienced squad that spent a lot of time playing top SoCal teams this year. Delta has a trio of top offensive threats, Lauryn Lucero (75 goals, 26 assists, 46 steals), Esmeralda De La Torre (48, 44, 33) and Laine Woodard (48, 17, 38). Kylie Richardson has played every minute between the pipes for the Mustangs this season. She’s 20-9 with 348 saves (59%).
South No. 3 Riverside City: 29-4, Orange Empire Conference champions
State championships: five, last one in 2016
The Tigers, a perennial state powerhouse, feature Yosra Elseifi, one of the state’s top players, who brings 75 goals, 26 assists and 46 steals to Long Beach. Chandler Burrell is also a top Tiger threat with 51 goals, 46 assists and 49 steals, while Abigail Ruiz also topped the 50-goal barrier with 51. Keeper Sofia Mather is 16-3 with 131 saves (51.2 %) this year.
North No. 4 Merced: 16-13, Coast Conference runner-up
State championships: looking for their first title
Don’t be fooled by their No. 4 seeding. The Blue Devils are as tough as they come and feature two sisters, Kyley and Sydney Abril, who are among the state’s marquee players. Sydney has 81 goals, 44 assists and 58 steals, while Kyley has 74 goals, 54 assists and state 3rd-best 100 steals. Goalkeeper Abi Perez played every minute in the cage for the Blue Devils and is 16-13 with 255 saves (55.3%).
South No. 4 Saddleback: 20-13, 3rd place Orange Empire Conference
State championships: looking for their first state title
The Bobcats will go as far as Holliss Munchoff takes them. Munchoff leads the state with 137 goals and 266 shots, and leads Saddleback with 42 assists and 74 steals. Razann Kotarche followed Munchoff with 49 goals. Keeper Abigail Wallace is 17-13 with 306 saves (57.2%).
(Matt Folsom, CCCWPCA)
