Saturday, February 25
Redlands, Calif.
9:00 a.m.
California State University at Northridge
at
Redlands
Photo by: Connor Clark
#23 CSUN to Play Twice at Redlands Invitational
2/24/2023 10:55:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---No. 23 CSUN Water Polo (9-4) returns to action Saturday at the Redlands Invitational. The Matadors take on the host Redlands at 9 a.m. then square off with Westcliff at 11:30 a.m. CSUN's match with Redlands will be live streamed via the SCIAC Network. Live stats will be available for both matches.
LAST TIME OUT
CSUN is coming off a 4-1 weekend highlighted by the team's first top-25 victory of the season. The Matadors started the weekend with a 10-5 road win at Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday before embarking on the Bronco Invitational, hosted by Santa Clara. CSUN began Saturday with a 10-5 victory over Cal State East Bay before dropping a hard-fought 6-5 decision to No. 19 San Jose State later that day. On Sunday, the Matadors bounced back with a 16-4 triumph over Austin College and a 10-8 victory over No. 24 Marist.
Dorottya Telek led the team offensively with 19 goals over the five matches while Shelby Hovanesian had five tallies and the trio of Tatiana Smeltzer, Helena Sandhagen and Valeria Martinez had four goals apiece. Meghan Lopez returned to the lineup and played in all five matches in front of the cage, racking up 43 total saves.
MATADOR HEADLINES
Sophomore center Dorottya Telek earned her second consecutive Big West Player of the Week award on Wednesday. Along with her 19 goals in the five matches last week, Telek also posted five steals, two field blocks and one assist to go with 14 exclusions drawn.
Telek is the first CSUN water polo player in school history to win back-to-back Big West Player of the Week honors and just the second to receive the award twice in one season. She joins Jillian Stapf (2007-10), Heidi Pettinger (2009-12) and Madeleine Sanchez (2015-18) with the most player of the week nods over a career with three.
Telek's 51 goals pace The Big West heading into the week. Other double digit CSUN scorers include Anna Pal (12), Shelby Hovanesian (11) and Helena Sandhagen (10). Pal is the team leader in assists (19), steals (15) and field blocks (10). In goal, Meghan Lopez has 95 saves with a 8.31 goals-against-average in 11 matches.
SERIES HISTORY
CSUN holds an 11-1 record over Redlands in team history, winning the last 11 meetings. The Matadors last played the Bulldogs on Feb. 15, 2020, and posted a 17-3 victory.
Saturday represents the first-ever meeting between CSUN and Westcliff in water polo.
A CLOSER LOOK AT REDLANDS
The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 0-6 record. The team though has been in a pair of close matches, losing to Cal State Fullerton (9-7) and Fresno Pacific (14-13). A season ago, Redlands went 8-13 overall. Hannah Long has scored a team-high 14 goals while Tori Zielinski, reigning SCIAC Defensive Player of the Week, has 55 saves to go with an 11.92 GAA this season.
A CLOSER LOOK AT WESTCLIFF
The Warriors (1-1) are in their first season of women's water polo in 2023. Westcliff earned its first program win on Feb. 17, defeating Cal Lutheran 15-13. Janja Kaplarevic tops the team with 13 goals through two contests. Goalkeeper Isabelle Kuhne has seven saves thus far on the year.
#UniteTheValley
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LAST TIME OUT
CSUN is coming off a 4-1 weekend highlighted by the team's first top-25 victory of the season. The Matadors started the weekend with a 10-5 road win at Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday before embarking on the Bronco Invitational, hosted by Santa Clara. CSUN began Saturday with a 10-5 victory over Cal State East Bay before dropping a hard-fought 6-5 decision to No. 19 San Jose State later that day. On Sunday, the Matadors bounced back with a 16-4 triumph over Austin College and a 10-8 victory over No. 24 Marist.
Dorottya Telek led the team offensively with 19 goals over the five matches while Shelby Hovanesian had five tallies and the trio of Tatiana Smeltzer, Helena Sandhagen and Valeria Martinez had four goals apiece. Meghan Lopez returned to the lineup and played in all five matches in front of the cage, racking up 43 total saves.
MATADOR HEADLINES
Sophomore center Dorottya Telek earned her second consecutive Big West Player of the Week award on Wednesday. Along with her 19 goals in the five matches last week, Telek also posted five steals, two field blocks and one assist to go with 14 exclusions drawn.
Telek is the first CSUN water polo player in school history to win back-to-back Big West Player of the Week honors and just the second to receive the award twice in one season. She joins Jillian Stapf (2007-10), Heidi Pettinger (2009-12) and Madeleine Sanchez (2015-18) with the most player of the week nods over a career with three.
Telek's 51 goals pace The Big West heading into the week. Other double digit CSUN scorers include Anna Pal (12), Shelby Hovanesian (11) and Helena Sandhagen (10). Pal is the team leader in assists (19), steals (15) and field blocks (10). In goal, Meghan Lopez has 95 saves with a 8.31 goals-against-average in 11 matches.
SERIES HISTORY
CSUN holds an 11-1 record over Redlands in team history, winning the last 11 meetings. The Matadors last played the Bulldogs on Feb. 15, 2020, and posted a 17-3 victory.
Saturday represents the first-ever meeting between CSUN and Westcliff in water polo.
A CLOSER LOOK AT REDLANDS
The Bulldogs enter the weekend with a 0-6 record. The team though has been in a pair of close matches, losing to Cal State Fullerton (9-7) and Fresno Pacific (14-13). A season ago, Redlands went 8-13 overall. Hannah Long has scored a team-high 14 goals while Tori Zielinski, reigning SCIAC Defensive Player of the Week, has 55 saves to go with an 11.92 GAA this season.
A CLOSER LOOK AT WESTCLIFF
The Warriors (1-1) are in their first season of women's water polo in 2023. Westcliff earned its first program win on Feb. 17, defeating Cal Lutheran 15-13. Janja Kaplarevic tops the team with 13 goals through two contests. Goalkeeper Isabelle Kuhne has seven saves thus far on the year.
#UniteTheValley
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Players Mentioned
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Water Polo
Utility
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Attacker
/ Women's Water Polo
Center
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