Biola women’s water polo kicked off their season on Jan. 18, after winning the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Women’s Championship for a second year, great expectations follow the team into the ‘25 season. 

JUST STARTED 

Women’s water polo is a fairly new sport for Biola. The program started in 2021 and has made a lasting legacy. In their first year, they placed third in the conference, and in 2023-2024, they won the WWPA Women’s Championship. This season, they are determined to keep the winning streak alive. 

Senior communications major and goalkeeper Chloe McKay notes how the team is motivated to perform well. 

“I can just see the hard work with the girls, and even the coaches want to help us get there, and they want to put us in a position where we’re giving 100% every day at practice,” said McKay. “And so I think that’s really all it is, is just leaning on each other and giving 100% at practice every time.” 

Six seniors and one graduate student have been representing Biola in the water since day one of the program. These women have helped pave the way for future Eagles and have left a legacy of shaping the program and team culture. 

Allison Crawford is a senior journalism major who played on the team for three seasons and is now their student manager. She is now in the position to see the team’s growth from the sidelines. 

“There are six characteristics we value: hard work, growth mindset, trust, support, respect, and accountability. And so we kind of get those wired into us, like, the beginning of our time at Biola on the team,” said Crawford. ”And I think every girl on the team has it.” 

COMMUNICATION IS KEY 

During the off-season, the girls emphasized communication and gelling as a team. The team has been working on drills, conditioning, getting reps in, building the sisterhood on the team, and learning how each other played.  

“Us communicating not only forms a bond in the pool but also outside of the water, and it helps us to get closer,” said McKay.

The girls have been working on their defense this season to improve their overall game. 

“Scoring goals and all that stuff gets the numbers on the scoreboard so we can win, but ultimately, we have to hold the other team from doing that same thing,” said McKay. 

Communication is crucial, not just for playing as a unit but also for building a well-oiled machine.

LEADERSHIP AND POWER 

The team veterans know what it takes to win, and they are hungry for another championship title. These girls have been putting in the work in and out of the water. One unique aspect of this program is that head coach Sarah Ramirez didn’t assign a captain because she expects all her players to rise to the occasion. 

Senior allied health major Ava LoBue, senior design major Christina Cervantes, and senior kinesiology major Lizzy Burch have all embodied the Eagles’ leadership and set the season’s tone. These Eagles have led with grace and know the hard work and grit that goes into playing

“Them serving the team this past year has been really noticeable about all of the years that they’ve wanted to get this team to where it is now,” said McKay. “They want this ring, and they want another win. Because what better way to finish off, like something that they started with another win.”

Burch has been with the program since the beginning. She had made a deep-rooted impact on the team. 

“Lizzy genuinely puts everything she can into the sport,” said McKay. “And it shows through her smarts in the field, and she draws ejections, and she makes goals out of nowhere, and she’s just a very scrappy player, or just a smart player.”

Freshman art major Gwendolyn Pidd is an attacker who is rising to be an emerging talent on the team who’s been starting close to every game. McKay described Pidd as a player with a growth mindset.

“Her smarts are definitely growing the more that we have played and the more that I’ve seen her get in the water,” said Mckay. “And I’m excited every time I get to see her do something crazy in the pool.” 

A NEW CHALLENGE 

After winning back-to-back seasons, the Eagles have a target on their back. 

“We’re going to have to overcome a lot when it comes to memorizing plays and communicating on defense,” said McKay. “Because those two things are things that I think will really help us in the long run when we are playing against these teams that will ultimately be playing in the championship.”

Another challenge the team will face is not being able to have head coach Ramirez with them for a portion of the season since she will be on maternity leave. 

“What it’s going to look like with the coaches we have now. And I think that our team is rising above it,” said McKay. “I think it’s continuing to form the bonds that we have and also like calling each other to a higher standard.” 

Regardless of the outcome of the games, coach Ramirez extends prayers to the opponent. She has not just led the Eagles to victory, but she has also led by example of being a true Eagle by exemplifying Christian leadership. 

SISTERHOOD

With six new freshmen on a 24-man roster, the team is excited to get the season going. 

“It’s really cool to see from the sidelines, and I have faith in them that they’re going to pull through for this year,” said Crawford. 

The team has a special bond through working towards a common goal, and the leadership with team culture prompts the team’s success. 

“I’m excited for us to finally see all of that stuff start to come to more fruition as we go through the season,” said McKay. “We are definitely going to grow more and we’re definitely going to learn more, and I’m excited to see how that all pans out by the end of the season.”

McKay describes her team as a sisterhood where they do early 7 a.m. practices together or just spend quality time outside of the pool. 

“They’re probably one of the funniest people walking Biola,” said Crawford. “I’m excited to see where they go, so we’ll see the chemistry.” 

With a mixture of veteran talent with new faces, the Eagles women’s water polo team is shaping up to have an exciting season.