2023 'Roo Women's Water Polo Preview

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's water polo team heads into the 2023 campaign with high expectations after reaching the inaugural USA Water Polo Final Four and two consecutive CWPA championship, and the 'Roos will be looking to continue that success this season.

Head coach Mark Lawrence will be forced to replace plenty of experience and production from last year's team after graduating the first crop of four-year players in the program's young history, including several former All-America performers, including Lexi Wong and Valery Piachonkina, as well as the last two CWPA Players of the Year in Sophie Oliver and Brooke Le. However, Lawrence's squad brings back a number of key contributors to last year's team that finished third at the USA Water Polo Championships, including senior Lauren Olivier and junior Sammi Thiele.

Olivier was an All-CWPA selection a year ago after reaching double-digits in goals scored, also reaching double-figures in both steals and assists for an Austin College squad that wrapped up the season with a record of 14-8. She's joined by Thiele to lead the 'Roos, who enter the season ranked No. 9 nationally and have been picked as the favorites to earn a third straight CWPA title in preseason polls. Thiele was named Austin College's female student-athlete of the year for 2021-22 after a year in which she not only proved to be one of the women's water polo team's top players, but was also an All-Conference performer for the 'Roo swim team.

Also back this season is Alyssa Ross, a junior attacker who earned All-CWPA accolades last season while nothing double-figure goals on the year, as is Erin McCormack, a junior goalie who brings plenty of experience after sharing duties between the pipes with All-American Piachonkina in 2022. Aubrey Pasky, Maddie Jacks, and Cory McGrath also return after strong campaigns in 2022, and Kalissa Niles is back and expected to build on an excellent first season in the program. 

Joining McCormack in net are junior Emily Engberson and first year player Michaela Hautzinger, two players with the talent and ability to give Lawrence strong minutes in goal in the upcoming year. Kate Askew and Katherine Cox round out this year's senior class, and Kylee Noble is back after giving Austin College good minutes during their Final Four run last year. Sophomore Emma Boyce is also back, and first year players Ashley Chand and McKenna Malone will also be relied on to give the 'Roos a boost and help Lawrence's team make another strong run toward a CWPA title.

Austin College opens the season this weekend when they head to Providence, R.I., to compete in the Bruno Classic with four games against NCAA Division I foes. First up will be Bucknell and Long Island University on Saturday, followed by games against Marist and host school Brown on Sunday.