Water polo team continues to improve

The No. 8 women's water polo team faced the No. 2 USC Trojans last Saturday for a pair of scrimmages in Los Angeles. The Sun Devils continued to show improvement in all areas as they head into the early part of the 2010 season.

"It was a good day," said Todd Clapper, head coach. "It was good for us to get that opportunity to play one of the top two teams in the nation ... and now come back and take that intensity to practice."

Sophomore attacker Kelsey White led all scorers in the first scrimmage with three goals, while junior attacker Lynlee Smith and sophomore attacker Mariam Salloum each added two. Salloum also recorded an assist and three steals. Freshman Amanda Young and sophomore Dana Harvey each tended the net for the Devils, with Young stopping seven shots and Harvey blocking three.

Eight different players notched a goal in the second scrimmage as the Sun Devils revealed their depth and balance. Newcomer Annabelle Carter, a sophomore attacker from Syndney, Australia, showed she would fit in right from the start after recording two assists and a goal. Senior center Kari Walsh also added an assist. Junior attacker Sarah Harris, who just joined the team from Cape Town, South Africa, tallied a goal in just her second time playing with the team.

The competition continues to stay tough as ASU heads to Irvine, Calif., Jan. 30 for the UCI/ Bakersfield Mini Tournament. The Sun Devils will face No. 17 Cal State Bakersfield at 9 a.m. PT, No. 16 Long Beach State at 1:45 p.m. PT, and host and No. 9 UC Irvine at 5:45 p.m. PT.