Women's Water Polo | 4/26/2018 10:00:00 AM

ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst women's water polo team heads to University of California San Diego in La Jolla, Calif. For the 2018 Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Women's Championship April 27-29.
 
LAKER OUTLOOK
Mercyhurst (12-6, 4-0 WWPA) enters the tournament as the number-three seed, its highest seeding in the tournament since joining the WWPA in 2016. The Lakers 12 wins this season are the most since 2015 (12-13).
 
The Lakers are winners of seven-straight matches dating back to March 29. During that span, the Lakers have outscored opponents 68-38.
 
Mercyhurst had several great performances lead them to the third-overall seed in the tournament. Freshman goaltender Sarah O'Keefe and senior center Cristal Maldonado were named to the WWPA All-Conference Second Team Tuesday. O'Keefe and freshman Maddie Nye were also named to the WWPA All-Conference Freshman Team.
 
Freshman Chloe Kunst leads the Lakers with 40 points and 32 goals on a team-high 65 shots this season. Nye and sophomore Jennifer Moshinsky are the second and third-highest scorers with 26 and 23 scores respectively.
 
Junior Mackenzie Ryburn has a team-high 15 assists, while senior Erin Glass' all-around play has filled the stat sheet with 12 goals, 10 helpers, and 29 assists. Sophomore Rachel Byrnes leads the Lakers with 23 of 27 sprints won and 30 steals.
 
THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
Here is a quick look at the other teams rounding out the eight-team tournament field:
 
#1 – UC San Diego (21-11, 4-0 WWPA)
The host and nationally-ranked (#12) Tritons have won five-straight WWPA Championships and earned the top seed for the fifth-straight season. They are led in scoring by senior Kayla Felder who has 43 goals and 56 points in 32 games played.
 
#2 – Cal State East Bay (16-5, 6-1 WWPA)
The Pioneers have won five-straight games entering the tournament and are receiving votes in the national polls. They feature two 45+ goal scorers in sophomore Auriel Bill and freshman Adrien Van Dyke.
 
#4 – Fresno Pacific (10-16, 4-3 WWPA)
The Sunbirds have played one of the toughest schedules in the country this season with nine games against opponents ranked in the top 25. They have four different players with at least 35 goals, led by sophomore Sam Witt with 38 goals and a team-high 80 points.
 
#5 – Sonoma State (6-18, 2-5 WWPA)
The Seawolves ran into a rough patch to end the season, dropping four of its last five games. They look to avenge two 11-10 regular season losses to Fresno Pacific in their first-round matchup. Junior Taylor Brooks has 33 goals and 35 points to lead the team.
 
#6 – Cal State Monterey Bay (4-19, 0-6 WWPA)
The Otters are Mercyhurst's first round opponent for the third-straight season, with both teams splitting the first two matchups. They enter on a nine-game losing skid. Five players have 22+ goals scored, with senior Lucy Gates leading the way with 24 goals and 40 points.
 
#7 – Gannon (7-9, 2-2 WWPA)
The Erie-based Golden Knights have won three of their last five games, with its two losses coming to Mercyhurst. WWPA First-Team recipient sophomore Campbell Ruh leads the squad with 45 goals and 25 assists while senior and Erie-native Alison Cooney has added 42 scores.  
 
#8 – McKendree (8-14, 0-4 WWPA)
The Bearcats are making their WWPA Championship debut this season after joining the conference last offseason. They've stumbled into the tournament with losses in four of their five last games (twice to Mercyhurst). Freshman Emiily Westlove paces the Bearcats with 54 goals.
 
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
All tournament games will be played at the Canyonview Aquatic Center. Visit WWPA Championship Central for live statistics, video links, ticket information, and directions.
 
Friday, April 27
Game 1: #1 UC San Diego vs #8 McKendree - 11 AM
Game 2: #4 Fresno Pacific vs #5 Sonoma State - 12:45 PM
Game 3: #2 Cal State East Bay vs #7 Gannon - 2:30 PM
Game 4: #3 Mercyhurst vs #6 Cal State Monterey Bay - 4:15 PM

Saturday, April 28
Game 5: Loser Game 2 vs Loser Game 1 11 AM
Game 6; Loser Game 4 vs Loser Game 3 12:45 PM
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 2 2:30 PM
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs Winner Game 4 4:15 PM

Sunday, April 29
Game 9 (7th Place) - Loser Game 5 vs Loser Game 6, 8 AM
Game 10 (5th Place) - Winner Game 5 vs Winner Game 6, 9:40 AM
Game 11 (3rd Place) - Loser Game 7 vs Loser Game 8, 11:20 AM
Game 12 (1st Place) - Winner Game 7 vs Winner Game 8, 1 PM