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Water polo set for home showdown with No. 1 USC

(Photo by Jessica Weisel)
(Photo by Jessica Weisel)

In MPSF conference play, each week is a battle for the ASU water polo team. The conference boasts many of the best teams in the nation, including the No. 1 team in the country.

The No. 1 USC Women of Troy (17-1) arrive in Tempe this weekend to square off against the No. 9 Sun Devils (15-10).

After spending the majority of the season ranked No. 2, USC jumped to the top spot on March 3 and has continued to hold that position.

This weekend’s contest will be ASU’s second consecutive game against a top-five team.

“The top teams are in our conference year in and year out,” ASU coach Todd Clapper said. “We expect it. We’re used to the fact that that is the way things are going to be.”

ASU will have its hands full against USC, which is riding a 15-game winning streak coming into Saturday’s matchup.

The Sun Devils are 1-12 all time against the Women of Troy, with their lone win coming in 2008. USC’s No. 1 ranking adds motivation for Sun Devils, who would like nothing more than an upset victory.

“Everyone wants to beat USC because they are No. 1 in our bracket,” freshman center Shannon Haas said. “If we pull off the upset, it will really show something.”

The Sun Devils are coming off a 14-11 loss to No. 3 California.

“The last three quarters we played really well against Cal,” Clapper said. “It showed where we could head at the end of the season.”

ASU will have to play at its best in every quarter in order to keep pace with the Women of Troy.

“For us, it is trying to keep that level of play at the highest all the time so we can reproduce the offensive and defensive efforts we had,” Clapper said.

USC will bring a stingy defense and potent offense to the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.

“They’ve got a lot of options on defense and good defense to work our centers,” Clapper said. “They have a good goalkeeper that allows them to [play] zone.”

USC goalie Tumua Anae is in the middle of an impressive streak. She is a force in the net and has saved at least 10 shots in nine consecutive games for the Women of Troy.

Although the Women of Troy will bring a strong zone, Clapper believes it is nothing his team can’t handle.

“We have grown a lot with the zone,” Clapper said. “We feel confident in that area.”

Through scouting and past meetings against USC, the Sun Devils are familiar with the Women of Troy’s game plan.

“We are expecting a heavy press,” Clapper said. “We will try to neutralize the strengths of the other team.”

While the top-ranked Women of Troy are talented up and down the pool, the Sun Devils believe they can capitalize on USC’s weaknesses.

“We are focusing on our defense and making sure we lock up on our key players,” Haas said.  “We want to force the ball to the 4-5. That is their weaker side.”

The Sun Devils are winless in conference play this season, and a win this weekend could be hard to come by.

“I think it is exciting,” Haas said. “We have nothing to lose. It’s a have-fun game, and we will do what we can.”

Reach the reporter at gregory.dillard@asu.edu


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