WWP Preview: CBU Set for 2022 Season Opener in Santa Barbara

Friday, January 21

Santa Barbara, Calif.

9:15 AM

California Baptist University

Indiana

Photo by: Rachel Sollazzo

WWP Preview: CBU Set for 2022 Season Opener in Santa Barbara

1/20/2022 2:10:00 PM | Women's Water Polo

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

RIVERSIDE – After a number of banner achievements in 2021, California Baptist University women's water polo is looking to keep the momentum rolling into 2022.

CBU opens the year at the UC Santa Barbara Winter Invite, with four top-20 matchups, on Friday and Saturday. The Lancers enter the year ranked 21^st in the Collegiate Water Polo Association's Preseason NCAA Top 25 Poll, which is the second-best preseason ranking in program history. California Baptist's best NCAA ranking came at the end of the 2021 when it finished the season at No. 17.

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CBU opens 2022 ranked No. 21 in the @CWPAWaterPolo Preseason Poll. It is the second-best preseason ranking in program history.

🔗 https://t.co/EBz4z1P9rP #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/CFOHNc6Vkf
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) January 13, 2022

This stands to be the first full season of collegiate women's water polo since 2019 after the 2020 season ended early and the 2021 campaign started late, with a number of teams opting out for the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lancers have gone a combined 18-15 over the last two seasons.

"We feel really good, we had a really good fall," Coach Jon Miller said. "It was nice having everyone back on campus and training after last winter. We had some successful fall scrimmages… The first test is huge, we've got a good first weekend to really test us and see where we're at. I think the team is ready for it."

It's okay to smile, season opens this week 😀#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/xTPVVBoUz2
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) January 18, 2022

California Baptist's roster of 29 is dominated by 20 upperclassmen (nine seniors, 11 junior), while the nine underclassmen include eight freshmen (five true, three redshirts).

"We are really leaning heavily on our seniors and juniors and that always helps going into a season," Miller said. "It's really exciting because at the same time we redshirted most of our freshmen group last year and I think a lot of them will come in and contribute right away.

"It's nice to have your top players return and set the tone but we have a lot of good, young players who have been waiting and are excited for an opportunity."

🚨🚨 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗢𝗣 🚨🚨

Big things are coming to CBU in 2022, including the @GCCWP Championships for the first time. Check out our full schedule now!

🔗 https://t.co/41eV9PNsgg #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/OHQN7RxRdb
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) October 12, 2021

All three of CBU's All-Golden Coast Conference honorees return from a season ago: Kira O'Donell, Jamie Hutton and Melinna Galbraith. O'Donell (51-32-19) and Hutton (45-25-20) ranked first and second in points, goals and assists for the Lancers last year and will be looked to lead the team again.

O'Donell became the first player in program history to secure multiple NCAA Division I All-America honors in 2021. She's a three-time All-American, with two at the D-I level, and All-GCC selection.

"When you return your top two offensive players you are going to expect them to perform on that side of the pool," Miller said. "They've shown they can do a lot offensively, but we know there are other players who can step up and provide some offense, we saw that in our fall scrimmages. The offense is led by those tow but we have depth behind them."

Centers Vicky Martinez and Maddie Schwegler return for their senior seasons, as well, after they combined for 30 goals in 16 games last year.

Even with all the returning talent, there are several openings left from graduations, including the graduation of four primary starters, CBU will need to fill this year.

Kyndall Burrell gives the Lancers a defensive stalwart at two-meter defender after the graduation of two players at that position from 2021. Redshirt freshman Jenna Dickstein and true freshman Cayleigh Carter add depth at defender.

"We are really excited to have her in that spot. Last year she really stepped up coming off a redshirt year. We were able to use her in a lot of situations as a primary defensive player. We are expecting big things from her for sure," Miller said.

The biggest question mark is at goalie after the Lancers graduated their regular starter since 2018 in All-American Grace Ramirez and Kyra Foley, who played 11 of 16 games in the cage a season ago.
Madison Gerg provides the most experience in goal, as she's been at CBU since the 2019 season and started four games in goal last season. Junior Madi Crookston is also familiar with the program and has been a Lancer since 2020, while Palomar College transfer Julia Miller and true freshman Ava Ratajczak provide further depth in the cage.

"Madi Gerg had some really good games last year and she's put herself in position to be the starter going into the season. She's had a really great fall and did great in the games we saw last year so she's ready to step into that role," Miller said. "We have four goalies we know can step in and contribute, so it's a deep position. With no returning starter, everyone has a chance to step up and contribute."

The Lancers also need to replace the production left from the departures of starting attackers Krista Krantz and Amy Branch. There's a number of returning attackers and veteran presences looking to step into those roles, including seniors Morgan Baker, Caelan Loroff and Lahela Rosario and juniors Galbraith, Kinga Wisniewska, Abby Mammen and Taylor Frandsen and redshirt freshmen Celeste Almendariz and Dora Lehoczky.