Biola celebrates successful first season for women’s water polo
Biola’s Veralie Naranjo (14) battles Fresno Pacific players in their women’s water polo game at Splash in La Mirada. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
LA MIRADA - After a very successful inaugural Biola women’s water polo season came to an end at the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championship Tournament, Eagles coach Sarah Orozco exclaimed, “We made sure we showed everyone we will be a first-ranked team next year,” said Orozco, on the college athletic website.
The Eagles finished with 13 wins, 16 losses and a 4-2 conference record.
In the post-season tournament, Biola finished third with a 14-7 win over McKendree University of Lebanon, Illinois.
The Eagles opened the tournament with a 14-8 win over Gannon University (Erie, PA), followed by a 16-11 semifinal loss to Salem (West Virginia).
“This year was a season to learn about ourselves with all other DI, DII and DIII programs we got to play,” Orozco added. “I wasn’t sure what this year’s team would look like coming from COVID.
“However, no team was created strictly on the foundation of faith and trust in God. This is His team and He used me as an instrument to orchestrate His plans for Biola women’s water polo.”
The initial win for the program came in just the second game of the season at the Long Beach State University Mini Tournament.
The Eagles, behind two first-period goals, went on to 16-7 win over the University of La Verne.
Redshirt sophomore Rachel Spadt had the honor of scoring the first goal in program history for the Eagles.
Biola’s Hanna Jordan (7) takes a shot against Fresno Pacific University in their women’s water polo game at Splash in La Mirada. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
“For a first-year program, we found great success in and out of the water,” said Spadt, who was at both UCLA and Long Beach State prior to Biola. “We all grew athletically, mentally, and spiritually. We all have a divine plan and purpose in our lives that Biola is a part of.
“I’ve been able to take what I’ve learned from UCLA and Long Beach and help build a program every single one of us (had a part). I have loved being this amazing team’s co-captain alongside amazing women. I can’t wait for the future of Biola women’s water polo. It’s only up from here.”
Spadt, who scored 49 goals for Biola this season, said of coach Orozco and the team, “Sarah played at the very highest collegiate level, some abroad, and even played representing Mexico. She has been a part of so many successful and elite level teams.
“I’m excited to see how that translates over the course of my time at Biola. As a first-time head coach, a first-year program is no easy feat - not even close. This athletic year presented its challenges like any team faces. However, this team, once full of strangers to one another became a beautiful, diverse family that shares a love for Jesus Christ. Athletics and team dynamics can be tough, but the Lord blessed us.”
The team was made up of 13 freshmen, five sophomores and a graduate student.
The first home win, behind a big crowd, came against CSU Monterey Bay, January 23. The Eagles won, 8-7 in this non-conference game.
On the season, the eagles had six main goal scorers – Courtney Pyle (58), Veralie Naranjo (57), Hannah Jordan (54), Maria Roldan-Gonzalez (49), Spadt (49) and Lizza Birch (32).
The two main goal keepers used by Biola were Damaris Kientz (6-9) and Samantha Rainey (5-5).
“We are so impressed by the effort and accomplishments of this first-year women’s water polo program,” Biola Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Communication Neil Morgan said. “Head coach Sarah Orozco and her staff (Ana Miroslavic and Sarah Adams) proved that they are capable of leading a highly competitive collegiate water polo program.
“They also showed consistently throughout the year a level of whole-person development, I can’t imagine is matched by many other programs.
Morgan, who had a big hand in the game-day operation of the water polo home games, also pointed out how close they got to advancing to the NCAA’s in their first year.
“The team finished just two wins shy of a national championship berth,” Morgan added. “We are so proud and look forward to the bright future of this program.”
Post-season awards were announced just prior to the WWPA Tournament and Biola had six players receive awards.
Leading the way was Naranjo, who was named Newcomer of the Year and was on the All-Freshman Team, along with Lizzy Birch.
Jordan was selected to the All-WWPA first team, along with Pyle and Spadt on the second team. Roldan-Gonzalez received an Honorable Mention.
“We look great coming into next year, adding on a couple of new recruits from different places and again growing our team strong and diverse,” Orozco said. “Our hope as a team is to be a better version of what we became this year.”