Oct. 28, 2014
With six starters returning from the 2014 team that finished seventh in the final national coaches' poll, the San Jose State University women's water polo team begins its 2015 season with an exhibition match against an Alumni team, Saturday, November 1.
The match takes place at The Aquatics Center at 10:00 a.m.
Coach Johnny Bega begins his second season as the head coach after earning 2014 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) "Coach of the Year" honors. Bega should have another strong squad starting with sophomore Katelynn Thompson in goal for the Spartans. Thompson started 13 times, most of them in the second half of the season and allowed 6.91 goals per match - one of the top figures in the MPSF.
San Jose State also returns its top five scorers from last year's team. Sophomore Clara Espar Llaquet led the MPSF in goals scored with 96 setting a Spartans' single-season record. Junior Rae Lekness, with 76; graduate student Timi Molnar, with 50; senior Victoria Smith, with a personal single-season best 45; and sophomore Bianca Seyfert, with 31, are potent goal scrers.
The Alumni team features eight of the top-25 goal scorers in school history. New assistant coach Adriana (Vogt) Reed (245) and four-time All-American Dani Curran (237) rank one-two on the San Jose State career goal-scoring chart. Anna Natalizio (124), Allie Stewart (116), Christine Welsh (113), Beth Harberts (112), Mary Beth Christie (85) and Rachel Henry (81) were capable goal scorers, too.
Two-time All-American Meagan Minson tops a trio of Alumni goalkeepers likely to play for the Alumni team. Minson is the Spartans' career leader in saves with 952. Maddie Reardon, third in career saves (396), also is likely to see time in goal for the Alumni.
There is no charge for the exhibition match with the Alumni. Parking is available in the 7th Street garage. Alumni still wishing to participate in the day's action can contact Coach Bega at (408) 924-1468 or at Johnny.bega@sjsu.edu.
Alumni team (as of October 26)
| Alisa Argend | Beth Harberts | Sara Natalizio | Allie Stewart |
| Mary Beth (Cox) Christie | Rachel Henry | Jamie (Schneider) O'Keefe | Ally Waasted |
| Ashlea Coski | Natalie Jennings | Kelsi Okuda | Christine Welsh |
| Dani Curran | Megan Minson | Maddie Reardon | Brooke Yepez |
| Alyssa Friesen | Anna Natalizio | Adriana (Vogt) Reed |