Nine Bruins on 2019 FINA Junior World Championship Roster
August 26, 2019 | Women's Water Polo
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IRVINE, Calif. โ Natalie Benson, theย USA Water Polo Women's Junior National Team Head Coach, announced todayย the 13-athlete roster that will represent Team USA at the upcoming FINA Women's Junior World Championship this September 9-15 in Funchal, Portugal. A total of nine Bruins are on the roster, which includes players Roxy Wheaton, Val Ayala, Ava Johnson, Georgia Phillips and incoming freshman Abbi Hill. Bruin Katrina Drake is one of three alternates.
A complete competition schedule will be made available in the coming weeks with live streaming expected at subscription serviceย FINATV.live.
Team USA has been slotted second in Group A, joined by Hungary, Australia and Japan. Visit USAWaterPolo.org for complete results from the USA matches, for more informationย click hereย to visit the FINA homepage for the Junior World Championship. Prior to the start of competition, Team USA will take part in a week of common training in Barcelona, Spain with the Spanish Women's Junior National Team.
Team USA will look to improve upon a fifth place finish at the 2017 FINA Junior World Championship and this year's team brings back six returners from that 2017 squad, which includes Bruins Johnson, Hill, and Ayalas, as well as Ryann Neushul (Stanford), Bayley Weber (USC), and Sarah Klass (Stanford). The roster also includes four high school standouts.
The entire Team USA coaching staff has ties to UCLA with Benson being assisted by Coralie Simmons and Molly Cahill. The trio were decorated Bruins during their respective collegiate careers and won a combined 10 NCAA Championships.
2019 FINA Women's Junior World Championship USA Roster (USAWP Club/USAWP Zone/School)
Ryann Neushulย - ATK (Santa Barbara 805/Coastal/Stanford)
Roxy Wheaton - ATK (680 Water Polo/Pacific/UCLA)
Val Ayala - ATK (Bruin/Coastal/UCLA)
Sarah Klassย - ATK (Stanford WPF/Pacific/Stanford)
Abbi Hillย - DEF (Santa Barbara 805/Coastal/UCLA)
Bayley Weberย - DEF (SET/SoPac/USC)
Noelle Wijnbeltย - CTR (SOCAL/SoPac/UC Davis)
Ava Johnson - CTRย (Bruin/Coastal/UCLA)
Georgia Phillips - GK (Bruin/Coastal/UCLA)
Alternates:
Hannah Constandse - ATK (SET/SoPac/Stanford)
Claire Sonne - ATK (CAL Bears Water Polo/Pacific/California)
Katrina Drake - ATK (Bruin/Coastal/UCLA)
Head Coach - Natalie Benson
Assistant Coach - Coralie Simmons
Assistant Coach - Molly Cahill
Team Manager - Andrew Silva
