Women’s water polo announces class of 2028

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women’s water polo will add three student-athletes to its roster next season, Ted Minnis, the Friends of Harvard Water Polo head coach announced today. The class includes one athlete from California, one from North Carolina and one from Greece in Cambridge.

“This class brings a tremendous amount of international experience to Blodgett Pool, and it will make an immediate impact on our team,” Coach Minnis added Wednesday. “They’re going to be able to help us achieve our goals and compete for a conference championship. They each bring a skill set to the pool that will help us after they once again graduate another deep class of seniors. I’m very excited to get to work with them and help them continue to grow in and out of the pond and see how they contribute to our HWWP program for years to come.

Losing many key pieces heading into 2024, Harvard struggled all year as the Crimson’s younger members led the way offensively. Ruby Hodge, Emma GilbertAnd Maya O’Dea combined for 142 of 305 total goals this season. Ultimately finishing in fourth place in 2024, the Crimson finished the season with a 13-14 record.

For more information on the Class of 2028, see below:

 

ORLIE COOPER

Four-year starting goalkeeper Carolina Water Polo…Captain of Carolina Water Polo…USA Water Polo Academy Youth Team 2023-present…. Junior Pan American Games 2023…ODP Futures 2022…. ODP NTSC 2022-2024….2023 Pan American Games Gold Medal…2022 Junior Olympics 16u Platinum Division Gold Medal – Session 3 (NC Select)…. Silver medal at the 2023 Florida Open…. Beast of the East 2023 Silver Medal (NC Select)… 2021 Junior Olympics 16u Gold Division Bronze Medal – Session 2 (San Diego Shores).

FROM COACH MINNIS:

“Orli is one of the best goalkeepers in the class of 2024. She is very tall, long and athletic and uses all of these skills to her advantage in goal. Having a goalkeeper like her will allow us to focus on the defensive side of the game. group and allow us to be more dynamic in this phase of the game. Orli has played at a very high level with our national teams and I am very happy to help him continue to achieve all his goals.

SOFIA DEL VILLAR

Attended Newport Harbor High School… Member of the water polo team for four years… Member of the swim team for four years… Played for the Newport Beach Water Polo Club… Water Captain -polo in 2022… Swimming captain in 2024… Bill Barnett Legacy Award 2024… First team All-League 2024… Second team All-Cif Open Division 2024… Orange County Dream Team daily driver, second team… Open division semifinalist Water Polo 2024… Surf League Co-Champions 2024… Water Polo Open Division Quarterfinalists (2023)… CIF Division 1 Swimming Qualification 200 Free Relays, 400 Free Relays… Water Polo Champions Tournament Santa Barbara, first place (2023)… Campeonato U18 Suda Americano Juvenil Deportes Acuaticos, International Water Polo Tournament, Chilean National Team, ranked 2nd… Pan-American Games Team Chile Santiago Chile, Chilean National Team.. .U19 Junior Pan American Games El Salvador Team Chile…Valedictorian, Newport Harbor High School…Newport Harbor High School Academic Excellence Award (9-12)…California Scholarship Federation (9-12) …National Honors Society (11-12)…Newport Harbor High School Student-Athlete (9-12)…AP Honors Scholar…Mathematics Student of the Year Nomination (2023)

FROM COACH MINNIS:

“Sofia plays on the left side of the pool where she uses her speed to create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. She represented Chile in the Pan American matches and gained great experience there that she will bring to our team. team. Sofia also played for one of the best high school teams in the country at Newport Harbor High School. I can’t wait to have her as a member of our family!

NIKI PIOVAN

Attended HEAF Athens College… Vouliagmeni Nautical Club 2018-2022… Alimos NAS Betsson 2022-2023…ANO Glyfada 2023-2024… Twice captain of Vouliagmeni Nautical Club… 2024 3rd place at Greek National U19 Championship… 3rd place at Greek National Championship Europe U17 with Greece National Team 2023…5th place in the 2023 Greek National Women’s D1 Championship…2nd place in the 2023 Greek U18 National Championship…2nd place in the 2023 Greek U17 National Championship…
2nd place at the U16 World Championship with the Greek national team 2022…3rd place at the 2022 Greek National Women’s D1 Championship…4th place at the 2022 Greek U17 National Championship…5th place at the 2022 Greek U16 National Championship…4th place at the 2022 Greek National U16 Championship Europe U15 with Greece National Team 2021…2nd place in the 2021 Greek U15 National Championship…2nd place in the 2021 Greek U17 National Championship…3rd place in the 2021 Greek U18 National Championship…Five-year recipient of the National Academic Excellence award… Placed third in the 2019 National Physics Competition… Qualified for 39^th National Math Olympics Competition… Brother Played Water Polo for Brown

FROM COACH MINNIS:

“Niki will bring a wealth of not only international, but national team experience to our program. Niki played on the Greek U19 team in several international events. She is a strong and very fast defender, and she shoots the ball exceptionally well. She has a high water polo IQ and she will add depth to our already deep defender position. Niki will make an immediate impact in the pool.”