Pacific Women’s Water Polo: Looking ahead to Conference Championships
Against a ticking clock, the women’s water polo team relies on adaptability once again as they look toward conference championships
Time is ticking for the Pacific Women’s water polo team, but it has been all year long. With trials and tribulations aplenty throughout their 2024 season campaign, the team has always had their sights set on the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) Championships on April 26th - 28th. Even in the Fall semester, those dates were circled, highlighted, and bolded on the calendars of each of the athletes and coaching staff. Head Coach Candice Vorbeck says regularly, “This whole season is just building towards April 28th” and her team knows it.
With six graduating seniors, the team has felt the pressure of making their last season one to remember, while the seniors themselves continue to build upon their legacies. Complimenting her team, senior and team captain Annikah Lillie said, “This team is a great group of girls who are dedicated and willing to work so hard.” This only speaks to a fraction of the effort put into this season. In the Fall semester, the team welcomed a new head coach, along with 11 newcomers. Comprised of both talented transfer students and an impactful class of freshmen, close to half of the team’s roster were new faces to the program. Efforts on team-building and chemistry ensued, both in and out of the water. Practice time increased, as Vorbeck knew her squad needed more time to get to know her and each other. These emphases have paid off, as the team boasts a 15:9 record, and is not done yet.
During the pre-season, the team looked to find success at tournaments including the Stanford Invitational, the Aggie Invite, the Bronco Invitational, and Pomona-Pitzer’s Convergence tournament. Starting the season, the Tigers found early wins against California State East Bay and Biola University. While they fell to California Berkeley and Stanford, they showed their tenacity in not being shy about playing top teams. The Tigers had an especially exceptional showing at the Aggie Invitational, earning a sweep of their games and beating the then #14-ranked team the University of California, Davis. At the Bronco Invitational, they won three out of four games, before splitting the weekend at Pomona-Pitzer. Turning the page to conference play, the Tigers are 4:3, securing three consecutive, crucial wins, and falling short to Fresno State on the road and Loyola Marymount University, their only loss at home this season. With the past behind them, the team is fixated on conference championships. Cementing this sentiment, 6th-year transfer student Hailey Williams said, “Nothing is guaranteed and our conference has shown any team can come up on top depending on the day.”
That said, the girls are what make the group. Canadian freshman Ella Cowan comments on this saying, “This team is really special to me because everyone loves each other and we all look out for each other in and out of the pool. Especially as an international freshman, I’ve felt really at home this year.” Reflecting on her decision to transfer, Williams added, “It is amazing to be a part of a group that continues to support each other to be the best in all aspects of life.” Lillie, a Stockton native and a Tiger through and through, also contributed, “The ability for us to stick together and try out new ideas has been instrumental in our growth and bond we have as a team.”
Adding her perspective, Coach Vorbeck said, “This team is and always will be incredibly special to me. This is my first year as a head coach, and for that, this group will always hold a special place in my heart. This program is made up of people who weren’t handed an easy pathway to success. Every single one of us had to make sacrifices for our passion, and that’s why I fell in love with this program.” Recognizing the newness that her hiring ushered in for the Tigers, Vorbeck also said, “Transitions take time, but this team is buying into each other and beginning to trust each other.”
As the Tiger team looks ahead to their conference championships, with limited hours left together, the privilege to be a part of such a program is not lost on a single roster member. As the countdown till the end of the season continues to approach, the Tigers rely on the same mentality they always have. Recounting the pillars of the program, Lillie described them as “adaptation, team cohesion, and competitive stamina,” while Williams and Coach Vorbeck added emphasis on the concept of adaptability. Though the road has not been an easy one, the team has practiced what they preach, adapting at each turn, through injuries, travel, and especially the addition of new members to the program. Surely, these experiences will lend themselves to cultivating a strong finish for the women of Pacific water polo. Make sure to cheer them on!