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Wednesday, Oct. 07, 2009

Sean Lynch: Merced College women's water polo opening eyes

Bill Halpin didn't see this coming.

He never would have even ventured a guess.

After watching his Merced College women's water polo team struggle for the better part of the 2008 season, Halpin's expectations entering 2009 were tempered at best.

Coming off a 15-17 season -- the first losing campaign in MC women's water polo history -- Halpin sounded like a coach just hoping to get back over .500.

The Lady Devils have achieved that, and then some.

MC has obliterated all expectations, opening the season 11-1 and 2-0 in the Coast Conference.

The Lady Devils could potentially secure the CC title today, when they play host to state-ranked No. 9 Foothill (1-0 CC, 11-2) at 3:30 p.m.

The showdown also gives MC the chance to avenge its only blemish: a 7-2 loss in the second week of the season.

The Lady Devils follow today's matchup with the 14th annual Merced Breakfast Lions Women's Water Polo Tournament on Friday through Sunday.

Halpin said the tournament will give the team a chance to secure quality wins over potential playoff teams like Sacramento City and American River.

"The truth of the matter is we're not a bad team," Halpin said. "Our offense is only so-so, but our defense has been tremendous.

"They've kept us in pretty much every game.

"If you'd have told me we'd be 11-1, I wouldn't have bought it, but the girls have played really well."

While the dramatic turnaround has caught Halpin off guard, there was some cause for optimism heading into the season.

At the very least, the MC coach knew he'd have a veteran squad with eight returning sophomores.

While that group started slowly as freshmen, things finally clicked down the stretch. The 2008 squad closed the season 7-2.

Apparently some of that momentum carried over to this season.

Sophomore Kailey Carter has elevated her game at the two-meter position, leading the Lady Devils with 29 goals, 25 assists and 24 steals.

Sophomore driver Randy Reyes has also provided an offensive punch, adding 20 goals and seven assists.

Alexas Deatherage (24 steals) and Hannah Dore (20 steals and 18 assists) have been rocks on a defensive unit that has conceded the second fewest number of goals in the state.

"The girls have played some really superb defense," Halpin said. "I've always been a defensive coach because I figured at the very least it keeps games close and gives you a chance.

"They've worked hard and our solid defense has led to better offense with good counters."

As far as the sophomores have come in their second season in the pool, Halpin thinks the his four-member freshman class is what's pushed MC over the top.

Rebekah Dawn (26 goals, 14 assists) and Katie Elam (21 and 10) rank two and three respectively on the Lady Devils in scoring.

Halpin said both are very active on the defensive end as well, with Dawn being the team's best hole-set defender.

As solid as a collegiate start as Elam and Dawn have had, no player may have made a bigger impact on the team than freshman goalie Kelly Yoder.

When MC found itself without a goalie a season ago, Jayme Westbrook filled in admirably.

But as far as Westbrook progressed over the course of the season, it wasn't the same as having a natural goalkeeper.

Enter Yoder.

The former Ceres star ranks fifth in the state with 104 saves in 12 games.

"Kelli scare me sometimes in practice, but she has played really well in games," Halpin said. "She's made some really outstanding saves and it's made a big difference for us.

"This is a team definitely thinking about the playoffs.

"The Coast Conference will probably come down to us and Foothill, so (today's) game is huge.

"The conference champion gets an automatic bid and these girls believe it could be theirs."

Sean Lynch is a Sun-Star sports writer. He can be reached at 385-2476 or via e-mail at slynch@mercedsun-star.com.