The Collegian

Issue date: 9/9/05 Section: Sports

By Karyn Gilbert, Christine Setness tosses the ball with Katrinia Cockrill during an afternoon pratice.

Mike Leabo getting into his fifth year coaching and feels the Delta's women's water polo team can fare well in the water with four returning sophomores and incoming skill. Their number-one goal is to make it to state, but first and foremost, they want to snag the title for their league.

"We are going to be right there (with Merced and Modesto)," said head coach Leabo. "We think we can win league this year."

"I feel we have a really good chance to win league and go to state," said sophomore Katrina Cockerill. "We still have a lot to work on, but this year we are a lot better as a team."

After the disappointment last season, where the Lady Mustangs finished second in their league, but didn't clinch a spot in the NorCals for the first time, they are getting ready for their first tournament in San Luis Obispo.

"It was the first time we had ever missed the NorCals," said Leabo.

The Lady Mustangs will travel far to the Cuesta Tournament, where major bonding will follow.

"It's a good bonding tournament," said Leabo. "It's a long way from home, and we go out to dinners."

Leabo said the overall experience and two very strong hole men (Sarah Watt and Elise Schwarts, who was all-league last year) will be the greatest strengths to a good season.

The women are lead by three sophomore team captains and have two strong new comers.

"(With more newcomers), you have to explain more, but it's good to have a bigger team," said Schwartz.

Cockerill, Schwartz, and Setness make up the captains who will lead the team to success.

"I hope to be a good example (as a) more dominant swimmer," Setness said.

Watt, the two-time player of the year in the SJAA coming from Tokay, and Melissa Addison, who was named first team all league all four years at St. Mary's, will build up the momentum for the freshmen.

With all the experience in the pool, the Lady Mustangs may seem set for the 2005 season, but that's all they have.

"It will be hard work, but we have a great opportunity of going to state and winning league," said Watt.

They have a good start-up team in the pool, but they are missing key help from the bench.

"We have little or no experience on the bench," said Leabo.

The rest of the team is built up from swimmers, but as Leabo said they have all bonded over the summer, and believes they will do fine under pressure.

"Because we played during the summer they know each other very well," he said. "These girls have played water polo for years and we don't mind being behind."

"It was good to get us together before the season to get a feel for each other and how we play," said freshman Addison.

The league in constructed of four teams -- Delta, Fresno, Merced, and Modesto, where each team will play another twice, but with tournaments and non-league play, they will get in about 30 games.

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