Sacred Heart Prep girls water polo bidding for back-to-back NorCal Invitational titles

Sacred Heart Prep produced one of the most impressive runs in NorCal Invitational history last year to capture the program’s first title since 2007 as host of the most prestigious girls water polo tournament of the fall season.

But the Gators’ pursuit of capturing back-to-back championships for the first time at the 16-team, two-day tournament is one of several significant storylines set to unfold Friday and Saturday at the 21st year of the event, which is showcased at both Sacred Heart Prep, as well as Palo Alto High.

The tournament final is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. PDT Saturday at Sacred Heart Prep’s Dunlevie Aquatic Center.

Sacred Heart Prep (16-2), which achieved a 13-3 victory against Acalanes in the championship match last season, has an opportunity to not only achieve its first title repeat at the event, but also secure its fourth NorCal Invitational crown, which would be the most in tournament history.

Davis Senior, Miramonte, San Ramon Valley and Sacred Heart Prep are all tied for the most NorCal Invitational championships with three apiece and all four programs are entered in this year’s field.

Sacred Heart Prep, which faces Stevenson (14-6) in Friday’s tournament opener at 12:05 p.m., is led by seniors Natalia Szczerba, Vivan Golub and Megan Newby, along with juniors Casey Coleman and goalkeeper Ellison Brush.

Arroyo Grande (19-4), which has lost twice this season to Sacred Heart Prep, is looking for another opportunity to square off with the Gators, in addition to having the potential to become the first Central Section program to win the NorCal Invitational crown.

The Eagles, led by goalkeeper Bay Burnett and fellow junior Natalie Whitfield plus seniors Berkley Sinner, Sophie McGehee and Ane’ Smith, won their own Fall Classic title Oct. 5 with a 9-6 victory against Miramonte (12-5). They are scheduled to square off against Mountain View St. Francis (10-8) at 11 a.m. Friday in an opening-round contest at Palo Alto.

Following NorCal Invitational titles in 2021 and 2022, Miramonte took third last season.

Although the Matadors were unable to prevail in the Acalanes Invitational or the Arroyo Grande Fall Classic, Miramonte – scheduled to meet Menlo School (8-4) at 1:10 p.m. Friday at Dunlevie Aquatic Center – is responsible for handing Sacred Heart Prep both losses this season.

Miramonte, led by goalkeeper Eliana Bottene and a veteran lineup that includes fellow seniors Ally Larsen, Bea Hearey, Ali Sagara and Marta Maninetti, rebounded from a 13-7 loss Sept. 7 against Sacred Heart Prep at the Acalanes Invitational to achieve an 11-8 nonleague victory Sept. 17 against the Gators, followed by an 8-5 semifinal triumph Oct. 5 at the Arroyo Grande Fall Classic.

Campolindo (13-4), which hasn’t won the NorCal Invitational title since 2014, has lost twice to Sacred Heart Prep, including a 10-9 overtime setback Oct. 3 and a 12-9 loss two days later in the third-place match at the Arroyo Grande Fall Classic.

But the Cougars, led by sophomore Lily Holloway and senior Avery Sullivan, have split this season with Arroyo Grande, including an 11-10 overtime win Sept. 28, before enduring a 12-8 semifinal loss Oct. 5 to the host Eagles at the Fall Classic.

Campolindo takes on host Palo Alto (13-5) at 1:10 p.m. Friday in its first-round match.

Carondelet (16-3), seeking its first NorCal Invitational championship, endured a 12-8 loss Sept. 7 to Sacred Heart Prep in the Acalanes Invitational final.

Carondelet, featuring a young lineup highlighted by sophomore Ainsley Swann, freshman Emilia Haast and junior Josie Haast, has earned victories this season against both Arroyo Grande and Campolindo.

Carondelet girls water polo | Photo courtesy of Carondelet

Acalanes (14-3) captured back-to-back NorCal Invitational titles in 2018 and 2019, then returned to the final following a four-year drought last season.

The Dons, who have suffered setbacks to Sacred Heart Prep and Miramonte along with a sudden-death overtime loss to Soquel, are led by juniors Ella Del Rosario and Sara Williams, senior Levand Koopah, in addition to sophomores Finley Graff and goalkeeper Adelyn Horciza.

Acalanes is scheduled to square off at 2:15 p.m. Friday against Clovis West (13-10) at Palo Alto.  

Davis Senior (15-7), which hasn’t captured the NorCal Invitational crown since 2010, boasts one of the deepest sophomore classes in the state, including Addie Sinclair, Aiva Mann, Jessie Walker and goalkeeper Hazel Beatty entering its tournament opener at 2:15 p.m. Friday against Carondelet at Dunlevie Aquatic Center.

San Ramon Valley (10-6), winner of NorCal Invitational championships in 2013, 2015 and 2016, is led by goalkeeper Shelby Killingsworth and fellow sophomore Daphne Mundelius, as well as senior Natalie Buck.

The Wolves are expected to match up in their tournament opener against Soquel (13-5) at 12:05 p.m. Friday at Palo Alto.

Clovis (15-8) takes on Leland (12-6) in the opening match at 11 a.m. Friday at Dunlevie Aquatic Center.