Shooting for a four-peat

GIRLS’ WATER POLO /// Royal Highlanders
Highlanders have won three straight league titles



ROOKIE—Royal freshman goalie Ava Dominick, center, leaps for a block in a win against Calabasas.

ROOKIE—Royal freshman goalie Ava Dominick, center, leaps for a block in a win against Calabasas.

The Highlanders aren’t afraid of a challenge.

Royal High’s girls’ water polo team, which won two CIFSouthern Section titles the past three years, isn’t built to contend for a Division 1 crown this year.

That doesn’t mean they’re shying away from elite competition.

“We basically have the same schedule we’ve had the last couple of years,” said head coach Devin Hurst, who is in his eighth consecutive season at the helm, and 14th overall. “We haven’t diluted it.”

Royal (3-5 overall) is being tested without multiple standouts who graduated from the 2017 squad, which was ousted in the first round of Division 1 postseason.

SMOTHERING DEFENSE—Royal High girls’ water polo standout Shayne Naylor, right, defends Calabasas’ Ava Recchia during the Highlanders’ 18-3 Coastal Canyon League win on Jan. 10 at home. Photos by MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers

SMOTHERING DEFENSE—Royal High girls’ water polo standout Shayne Naylor, right, defends Calabasas’ Ava Recchia during the Highlanders’ 18-3 Coastal Canyon League win on Jan. 10 at home. Photos by MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers

“They weren’t just role players,”

Hurst said of the graduated seniors. “They were main players on the squad. That’s why we’ve had kind of a slow start. We’re having to not rely on individual talent and more on a team concept.”

FUTURE AZTEC—Royal’s Sydney Hurst, right, scores a goal against Calabasas on Jan. 10. Hurst will play water polo at San Diego State.

FUTURE AZTEC—Royal’s Sydney Hurst, right, scores a goal against Calabasas on Jan. 10. Hurst will play water polo at San Diego State.

The Highlanders are still hanging tough with some of the top teams in the Southern Section, but a gulf exists.

Royal, which is in the new top division that’ll be split into Divisions 1 and 2 for the postseason, has weathered setbacks against Santa Barbara, M.L. King and Newport Harbor, which are all currently ranked in the top-20 of the elite division.

“I think it was really important to play those good teams early to get a sense of where we’re at to make goals for where we want to be,” said senior center Sydney Hurst, the coach’s daughter. “You can’t ever lose from playing good water polo. I’m happy we played those teams early.”

RAD ROOKIE—Riley Cuevas, a freshman attacker for the Royal High girls’ water polo team, shoots the ball against Calabasas on Jan. 10 Photos by MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers

RAD ROOKIE—Riley Cuevas, a freshman attacker for the Royal High girls’ water polo team, shoots the ball against Calabasas on Jan. 10 Photos by MICHAEL COONS/Acorn Newspapers

The Highlanders will face more tough tests at America’s Finest City Tournament Jan. 19 and 20 in San Diego.

Royal seeks its fourth straight Coastal Canyon League crown. The Highlanders opened league action with an 18-3 romp over Calabasas on Jan. 10. Royal continues its league slate at 3:15 p.m. Jan. 17 at Camarillo.

ALL-STAR—Royal senior Shaeleigh Russell has shifted to attacker after suiting up at goalkeeper the previous three seasons.

ALL-STAR—Royal senior Shaeleigh Russell has shifted to attacker after suiting up at goalkeeper the previous three seasons.

“It’s always a goal of ours to win league,” said Sydney Hurst, a San Diego State commit. “It’s important to us.”

Shayne Naylor, a senior attacker who can also play center, said the Highlanders are brimming with talented players.

“We definitely have some great shooters on our team,” Naylor said. “We’re also a pretty fast team. We’ve been training really hard for our speed and strength.”

 

 

Naylor said she’s been especially impressed with freshman goalie Ava Dominick, the younger sister of Luke Dominick, one of the greatest boys’water polo goalies to ever don Royal green and gold.

“She’s amazing,” Naylor said of the rookie. “She’s definitely a lot of work for us. Shooting past her is really hard.”

Ava Dominick said she’s enjoying her high school experience.

“I’m just trying to replace (Shaeleigh Russell) to be a good goalie for the team,” Dominick said. “I’m definitely learning to play against the competition of this level. I enjoy learning all the tips and tricks that come with high school water polo. I enjoy the competitive playing level.”

Russell, who spent the past three seasons defending the cage, is now roaming the pool at attacker.

Teammates said the tough senior has done well on the offensive end, but she’s still learning how to excel on the defensive end of the pool.

“She is one of the most aggressive players I’ve ever seen,” Sydney Hurst said of Russell. “She’s doing well, she’s learning and she’s trying her best.”

Kristen Saczynski, a 2-meter defender committed to Wagner College, is confident in her team.

“We’ll win league, for sure,” she said. “I want to enjoy it because it’s my senior year.”

Royal also features returning starters Ally Arnold, a senior attacker, and Maddie Van Meter, a sophomore attacker.

Nina Espinoza, the younger sister of former Highlanders Natalie and Nicole Espinoza, is a freshman to watch. Riley Cuevas, an attacker with a cannon for an arm, is a rookie earning playing time.

Leah Nohrenberg, Kayla Stephenson and Hannah Langbehn are seniors.

Junior Nevaeh Valle and sophomores Alana Broome and Allyson Patrikian bolster the roster.

Saczynski said she’s not convinced a section title is out of the question this year.

“Hopefully we’ll get far in CIF,” she said. “We know we can compete with the high competition.”