The Augustana women’s water polo team improved their overall record to 9-3 with three big wins on the team’s trip out west at the Claremont Convergence. The team managed to defeat the University of La Verne and Whittier College before they fell to Cal Lutheran, then wrapped up the weekend by beating Occidental.
Their three wins ensured that the Vikings tied their best start to a season through 12 games in program history, matching a 9-3 start to the 2024 season. After graduating the program’s first full senior class of four-year athletes, the team needed a new set of leaders, and to Head Coach Ryan Pyror’s delight, the Vikings did not miss a beat.
“We did graduate a strong senior class, but we had a strong group of returners as well,” Pyror said. “I think that has really smoothed the transition, and the process has stayed mostly the same. I’ve been really pleased with not only the contributions of our new players, but also our returning players who have taken a big step forward as well.”
Among the returning players, a few standouts include junior Waiahuli Akau and sophomores Emma Blezien and Anias Jones. Leading the team in points with 44 in nine games, Akau is averaging 2.4 points per game, well on pace to blow past her point total from last season, which was 45, and her points per game total, 1.8 last season.
For Akau, that step had its challenges. While she is adjusting to her role well and having a lot of chemistry with the rest of the team, pressure came from adjusting to becoming a leader and playing without one of last season’s key players: her sister Ocean.
“It’s very different, because all the time I feel like I’m looking for Ocean,” Akau said. “There’s a lot more pressure this year, but at the same time, I’m also glad that I can be more of an individual player and work on what I want to work on. In the past, I was very much more of an assisting player, but now, it’s on me to step up and take that leadership role. So it’s different.”
The Vikings opened the weekend of March 6 with two wins, as the team dominated early against La Verne, jumping out to a 7–0 lead in the first period behind multiple goals from Akau and Blezien. Augie maintained the lead throughout the game, finishing with six different players scoring, while Akau led the team with four goals in a 13-6 win.
In the second game against Whittier, the Vikings responded after an early goal with four straight scores to take control. Jones and Blezien each scored three goals, helping seal the 14–9 victory.
The team split its next two games. Despite the Vikings being tied 4–4 at halftime against Cal Lutheran, theywere outscored 7–2 in the second half, allowing Lutheran to pull away.
Against Occidental, Augie built an early lead and maintained it through the final period to secure the 12-8 win. Blezien and Akau each scored three goals, while seven Vikings found the back of the net.
West Coast trips like these not only increase the Vikings’ program visibility but also give the team a chance to play against tough competition that helps prepare them for conference play and, later on, postseason games. Senior Mary King, who was finally cleared to play this weekend after coming back from an injury, understands the significance of these close, tough games as the season goes on.
“[Close games] are really, really important for getting ready for championships, because when you get into those competitive situations in conference and nationals, you’re going to have close games with really good teams,” King said. “So when we get to see those in our normal season, and to pull those through, learning that we are a team that can really convert in that fourth quarter and win in overtime and things like that, that is really important for building that confidence as a team.”
After the success of the Claremont Convergence, the Vikings will have a week to prepare for their upcoming matchups in the CWPA West In-season Tournament, which will take place the weekend of March 14-15 at Carthage College.
