REDLANDS, Calif. (Sept. 10, 2023) – Despite facing stiff Division I competition at the University of Redlands-hosted Inland Empire Classic over the weekend, the youthful Whittier College men's water polo team showcased moments of brilliance as they build upon a fresh foundation under first-year Head Coach Preslav Djippov.

On Saturday, Whittier first faced off against UC Irvine, a challenging opponent that showcased the Poets' resilience despite coming up short. Both senior center Ben Ramans (Los Altos, Calif. / St. Francis) and sophomore Alberto Seva (Barcelona, Spain / Westcliff University) punctuated the board with scores, giving the Purple & Gold something to build on later in the weekend.

Later in the day, the Poets demonstrated substantial growth in their offensive performance against Air Force, particularly highlighting their potential in an electrifying second quarter where they potted five goals. Though they faced a setback in defeat, the team rallied behind an invigorated offense, with Ramans and Seva finding the net multiple times, and sophomore Brody Haney (Tustin, Calif. / Mt. Saint Mary's University) leading the charge with an impressive four-goal haul. New talents began to shine through too, with freshman contributors Julien Breck (Norwalk, Calif. / La Serna) and Dylan Zeledon (Orlando, Fla. / Apopka) setting up scoring opportunities with a pair of assists each. The defensive helm was steered by goalie Kenshiro Matsuzawa (Brooklyn, Japan St. Francis), who made an impressive eight saves in the first three quarters in addition to contributing three assists, showcasing a multifaceted skill set that could further develop as the season progresses.

Sunday brought renewed energy as the Poets took on Cal-State Fullerton and Concordia University Irvine. Against the Titans, Whittier managed to score three goals, with a notable performance by Haney, who spearheaded the attack with 10 total shots, finding the back of the net to keep the Poets in the game. The Poets kept their momentum rolling in their match against Concordia, presenting a collaborative front as they registered six goals, half of which were credited Haney and his attacking persistance. The team's willingness to use one another on scoring opportunities was evident in the fact that five of the six goals were assisted, highlighting the growing chemistry and understanding between the players, with promising freshman Andrew Muro (Whittier, Calif. / La Serna) driving scoring opportunities with two assists alongside Seva and Breck.

Djippov and the Poets will now turn their attention to their opening week of SCIAC competition, where they will first play Occidental College on Wednesday, Sept. 20 before taking on Chapman University on Friday, Sept. 22.
 

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