Coyotes reload in women's water polo

Head Coach Tom Finwall faces the task of finding talented replacements for two all-Americans who completed their collegiate eligibility in the 2008 season, leading CSUSB to a 20-17 record and a fifth-place finish in the 12-member Western Water Polo Association.

            As he prepares for the 2009 season, Finwall must replace two-time all-American Freyja Berg, who has been nominated for a third all-America award after leading the nation in scoring this season with 110 goals and setting CSUSB career records for scoring, assists and steals.

            CSUSB also loses the services of 2007 all-American Sabrina Marquez who set a new team single-season record for assists in 2008 in addition to scoring more than 130 goals in her two seasons with the Coyotes. Starters Cheryl Salazar, Italia Iossif and Ashley Hays also concluded their collegiate careers in 2008.

            However, six recruits have signed national letters of intent to play for CSUSB in 2008-09:

n      Marilyn Doughty, who helped Chaffey College to a 27-15 record and third place in the South Coast Conference and third place in the Southern California Regional Tournament this season. Doughty had 39 goals, 34 assists and a conference-leading 113 steals for the Panthers earning second-team all-conference honors. She played her high school polo at Centennial in Corona.

n      Emily Hove, an all-Ivy League player and Female Athlete of the Year at John W. North HS in Riverside. She scored 102 goals with 38 steals and 36 assists at her two-meter position for the Huskies..

n      Misty Vu, also an all-Ivy League first-team player for North HS.

n      Taylor Vermillion, who led Arroyo Valley HS in San Bernardino to the San Andreas League title (8-0) and was the team MVP.

n      Sara Kelley, a second-team all-CIF selection from Jurupa Valley HS in Riverside who earned all-league honors and was the team's defensive MVP.

n      Katelyn Jessen of Tracy HS in Northern California, the team's most improved player in 2007.

Signing conference letters of intent were Danica Vera of Cajon HS in San Bernardino, a first-team all-San Andreas League pick, captain and team MVP; Hannah Wohlk of La Sierra HS in Riverside; Erika Estrada of Chaffey HS in Ontario and Shelly Kocher of Jurupa Valley HS.

Kayla Barrow, a third-team all-CIF selection from Santiago HS in Corona, has made a non-binding verbal commitment to attend CSUSB. She helped Santiago win the Mountain View League at 10-0 and go 20-6 overall and finish as the CIF Division 5 runnerup.

Finwall has a handful of players returning for 2008-09 including Bryanna Burns, voted to the WWPA all-freshman team and one of the nation's leaders in saves by a goalkeeper with 325; Kaitlin Hartman (48 goals, 41 assists); and Aimee Salcido (16 goals, 25 steals).