The defending national champions are finally getting some respect.
After winning the prestigious Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto last weekend, the women’s water polo team leapfrogged in the rankings and are now the No. 1-ranked team in the country.
For the Bruins, the helpful senior leadership has led to their early season success.
Coach Adam Krikorian said he expects his seniors to take advantage of their last year as Bruins by solidly filling these leadership roles.
“They’ve all been a part of at least two championship teams,” Krikorian said. “They should bring confidence. They’ve been there before and they’ve been successful, and hopefully that rubs off on the rest of the team.”
The seniors ““ goalkeeper Emily Feher, driver Kelly Rulon and center forward Kacy Kunkel ““ have all taken on vocal roles on the team. They encourage younger players inside and outside of the pool and lead by example with their solid work ethic.
“They are very considerate of their teammates and their teammates’ feelings, weaknesses and strengths,” Krikorian said. “They all do a very nice job of making their teammates better, and ultimately that’s what great leaders do.”
With a roster that includes seven juniors and five sophomores, it would be easy for the two freshmen ““ drivers Melissa Mordell and Lauren Jollymour ““ to get lost in the shuffle. But this clearly has not been the case.
Mordell has felt particularly welcomed and encouraged by the team’s veterans. She said that by planning events outside of practice, such as team dinners, barbecues, social nights and trips to other sports games, it makes it easier to trust them in the pool and makes the grueling practices and intense games more fun.
“I have a lot to learn,” Mordell said. “I don’t take it personally when they correct me.”
Playing on a team that has won four national championships in the past six years might be a little intimidating, so Mordell cited a quote from Kunkel as particularly helpful in keeping things in perspective when practice gets tough: “Enjoy it for water polo. It’s a game we all love.”
Krikorian said that while he sometimes is the one to interject comments during practice and games, the seniors’ words can be more effective for the rest of the players.
“As much as I want people to listen to me and do what I say, there is a great power that goes along with hearing it from a teammate and I don’t think anything can be compared to that,” Krikorian said.