Women's Water Polo Preview: Riverside Favored in OEC

The 2024 women's water polo season is in full swing, and the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) battle has never looked tighter.  Riverside City looks like an early favorite with huge games upcoming.

RCC is 13-1 overall out of the gate, with the lone loss coming against Long Beach City, 9-7, in the Orange Coast Invitational.  The Tigers defeated Saddleback in two tournaments, downing the Bobcats in the Orange Coast Invitational (10-2) and again in the Riverside City Tournament (12-7).  They also defeated Orange Coast in both the Cuesta College Tournament (13-5) and the Orange Coast Invitational (15-10), making them early favorites to capture the OEC title.  RCC is led by Yosra Elseifi, who currently leads the state with 53 goals through 13 games.

Saddleback and Orange Coast have both started 2-0 in OEC play.  The Bobcats defeated Fullerton College (15-12) and Golden West College (10-8) to start conference play while OCC defeated Golden West (13-6) and Cypress (15-11).  Saddleback has one of the top scorers in the state in Holliss Munchoff, who has 52 goals in 12 games.  Orange Coast features a balanced attack and has six players with 10-or-more goals on the season.  

Golden West, Fullerton and Cypress are all 0-2 in conference play, but have been anything but a pushover.  Golden West is led by Hanna Menyhart, who has 21 goals through nine games.  Fullerton has three players with 10-or-more goals, led by Elyse Weske (12).  Cypress has had a hot start from Jillian Van Gemert, who has 30 goals in six games.  

Orange Empire Conference play resumes next Wednesday (October 2).  

Release by Brad Hoiseth, Saddleback