The 2019 San Jose State University women's water polo team will be tested immediately when it opens its season Saturday, January 19, against host #10-ranked UC Davis in the Aggie Invitational at the Schaal Aquatic Complex. Match time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
The Spartans are coming off a 9-19 win-loss record last season. Thirteen of the team's matches were against top-10 ranked opponents, none of them resulting in victories. San Jose State's last victory over a top-10 team was a 9-7 overtime win against #9-UC Santa Barbara at the 2017 Barbara Kalbus Invitational in Irvine, Calif.
This year's Spartan team is ranked #20 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association's preseason poll. Head coach Gabor Sarusi has one of the youngest in the program's history with has 11 freshmen.
Redshirt freshman Hannah Henry is expected to get the starting nod in goal against UC Davis. Anna Maria Luther from Palos Verdes High in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and Sophia Reyes from Righetti High in Santa Maria, Calif., are two more promising goalkeepers.
Olga Descalzi from Spain, Matilda Moore from Australia and Clarissa Wandinger from Washington High in Fremont, Calif., are three freshmen seeking to inject more scoring into the Spartans' arsenal. Descalzi was a key player on Spain's 2018 Women's World Youth Water Polo Championship team.
San Jose State's top returning scorers from last year are sophomores Lili Urvari, who was second on last year's team with 26 goals, and Tyanna Supreme, who finished with 10. The Spartans also are counting on Sierra Painter, who had 13 goals in 2017, but missed last season, to add scoring punch and experience in the pool.
Senior Michelle Taikeff and juniors Caroline Kerwin and Jacqui Maisey give the Spartans a veteran presence and added experience.
This year's San Jose State team plays its first two weeks of the tournament play this season nearby at UC Davis and at Cal. The Spartans' first time at home this year is a February 13 exhibition contest versus a touring team from China at West Valley College. There is no admission charge for this exhibition.