Water polo preview: Rams hope to find success in Bakersfield

Feb. 9, 2010

by Zach Balside
Athletic Media Relations

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The CSU Rams water polo team looks to rebound after starting its season 0-4 at the Bakersfield Invitational at the Hillman Aquatics Center in Bakersfield, Calif., this Friday-Sunday.

This tournament marks the first Western Water Polo Association competition that the Rams will face in the 2010 season. CSU will see three WWPA teams out of its five opponents during the three-day tournament, facing No. 18 Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay.

The Rams open on Friday against Cal Lutheran. CSU lost a tight battle to the Regals last February. The score was tied after each of the first three periods before the Regals held on to win 8-7.

"It's going to be a well-fought game," coach Mike Moody said. "They're a disciplined team that's fast up and down the pool. They play a different style than we do. We're just focusing on what we can control."

On Saturday morning, the Rams will play hosts Bakersfield. Last season, the Rams held tight with the Roadrunners but a scoreless third quarter ultimately spelled defeat for the Rams.

Moody believes that the tightness of the competition between the Rams and the Roadrunners is budding into a rivalry that is fun to be a part of.

"It's a good rivalry," Moody said. "We both play the same style: very physical and up-tempo. The games have a good atmosphere and good sportsmanship."

At noon on Saturday the Rams will again hit the pool to take on Monterey Bay, a team that the Rams defeated twice last season by a combined score of 19-11. The two wins came six days apart, on Feb. 15 and Feb. 21. Then, early Sunday morning the Rams will take the pool again against East Bay. CSU took two tight games against the Pioneers, including a thrilling overtime game on Feb. 15. Ali Pavlik scored a sudden-death game-winner to seal the victory.

Moody believes that neither of these games should be taken lightly, regardless of the Rams' success last year.

"They're both very capable teams," Moody said. "We're certainly not going to overlook them."

To finish the weekend, the Rams will take on a non-conference opponent in Pacific. CSU played Pacific on Feb. 22 last year, jumping out to a 3-0 lead after the first quarter, only to fall behind late and lose 9-7. It will be Rams' fifth game in a 48-hour time span, a challenge Moody says the Rams need to overcome to be able to defeat the Tigers.

"It's a good mental challenge," Moody said. "We'll have to be mentally tough to win this game. We have more depth than we had before and we're more physically fit than we've ever been."

The Rams play Cal Lutheran at 5:30 p.m. MT Friday. Saturday, CSU plays Bakersfield at 8:45 a.m. and Monterey Bay at noon. Rounding off the weekend Sunday, the Rams play East Bay at 8:30 a.m. and Pacific at 11:45 a.m.

After starting last season 0-4, the Rams went on to win seven of its next 10 games.

Spotlight on: Ali Pavlik
Ali Pavlik has become a strong scoring threat for the Rams. A second-team all-WWPA selection last year as a sophomore, Moody has high hopes for her this year as a junior. In the first action of the season, Pavlik did not disappoint, recording nine goals in four games against ranked competition.

Moody says that her success is no surprise, and that she has really bought into the system CSU runs.

"She came in and had the skills and we've give her the tools to develop as a player," Moody said. "She really understands the game and what we want to do. Her main focus is to help the team. She is almost like having another coach in the pool."

Moody also recognized Pavlik's commitment and work ethic as key contributors to her production.

"Her willingness to go outside of her comfort zone in the weight room has helped her to become a better player," Moody said.

Notes: Pavlik scored four goals against Cal Lutheran last season, and had a hat trick against Bakersfield... Katy Armstrong posted her only career three-goal game against Pacific last season... Melissa Fisher, a true freshman goaltender, started three of the team's first four games of the season... Pavlik's nine goals at the Michigan Kick-Off Tournament moved her ahead of senior Sarah Ostling and 2009 graduate Emily Chambers for third all time in scoring at CSU. Her 121 career goals trail only Laurien White (135) and Annie Quinn (204)... Pavlik's two hat tricks at Michigan give her 20 for her career... Bakersfield was No. 18 according to the Feb. 3 national poll... East Bay and Pacific were also receiving votes... Nadasdy now has 84 steals in her career, and is in striking distance of becoming the fifth player in school history to record 100 steals... Kailin Custy's four assists at the Michigan Kick-Off Tournament moved her into a tie for seventh in career steals in CSU history (22).

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