Water Polo

This season, the women’s water polo team finished second in the CWPA Southern Division and fifth at Eastern Championships. Though the team added only two freshmen, both made a major impact, setting the stage for a successful season.

Following its 2009 NCAA appearance, the men's water polo team entered 2010 without the eight seniors who had lead them to the Final Four. Short five starters in a game that only puts seven players in the pool, Princeton seemed poised for a rebuilding year. In this midst of reconstructing their team, however, the Tigers came out strong, taking first place at the newly re-instated Ivy League Tournament and finishing third at Eastern Championships.

The women’s water polo team traveled 700 miles to Bloomington, Ind., for the Eastern Championships this weekend. The No. 20 Tigers fell to No. 19 Maryland in Friday’s quarterfinal match but recovered to defeat George Washington on Saturday and Harvard on Sunday, earning fifth place in the tournament.

After a California tour over spring break and two weeks of rest, the No. 18 women’s water polo team will return to DeNunzio Pool this weekend. After an exhibition game against the New York Athletic Club, the Tigers (11-8 overall, 4-1 CWPA South) will take on Bucknell, No. 7 Michigan and St. Francis College.

“Someday love will find you. Break those chains that bind you. One night will remind you, how we touched and went our separate ways.”

When you combine Bob the bus driver, Journey music videos, assistant coach Derek Ellingson on the seat drums, assistant coach Serela Kay on the air piano and head coach Luis Nicolao on lead vocals, there is no way the women’s water polo team cannot get fired up for its away matches. “Nothing gets us pumped more than some 1980s air piano,” senior driver and tri-captain Helen Meigs said.