2025 'Roo Women's Water Polo Season Preview

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's water polo team heads into the 2025 with aspirations for a fourth consecutive berth in the Division III Final Four, and despite having a young team, head coach Mark Lawrence expects big things for his squad heading into the new year.

Lawrence's team might be young, with 19 of 24 players on this year's roster being either freshmen or sophomores, but there's plenty of talent both as returners and newcomers. Lawrence believes this year's team has what it takes to make a run at another CWPA Championship, after having been in the conference title game every year of competition in the program's history. Leading the way among the upperclassmen is senior All-CWPA center defender Ashley Chand, as well as junior center Bianca Gallegos and her classmate, attacker McKenna Malone. Senior attacker Emma Boyce is also back, as is junior goalie Michaela Hautzinger. 

The 'Roos feature a strong sophomore class that includes a number of players who made immediate impacts last season, including goalie Ashley Easley, who split time in the cage last season and is expected to take the next step and slide into the top role in 2025. Austin College will also be bolstered in the field by sophomore utility players Joslyn Dimitri, who was named to the All-Final Four Team last season as a freshman, and Mikhaela Torres. Both athletes played crucial roles in 2024, and are primed to take the next step heading into the new year. Lawrence expects each of his sophomores to step up as part of a balanced nucleus, while his five upperclassmen will be counted on to provide leadership, both vocally and by example, as well as mentorship for their younger teammates. 

This year's team features a large freshman class, with its 11 players comprising nearly half of the roster. Several players should find themselves in the rotation and challenging for starting positions immediately, including right-handed attacker Clara Koenig out of Houston, as well as another right-handed attacker, San Antonio native Camila Diarte. Lexy Hulse will also be a key piece this season, as the freshhman attacker from Pennsylvania brings tremendous speed in the pool, and Florida native Ashlyn Thomas is another first-year attacker Lawrence believes will make a splash right away. 

Austin College opens the 2025 season this weekend when they travel to Virginia to compete in the VMI Invite, beginning with games against St. Francis (Pa.) and Mount St. Mary's on February 1, before wrapping up the weekend against McKendree and the host school, VMI, on February 2.