Stanford women’s water polo has earned itself a spot amongst the elite programs in the nation, laying claim to national championships in 2002, 2011, 2012 and 2014, and the distinction of being the only team to qualify for every NCAA Championship since the tournament’s inception in 2001.
Stanford has reached the NCAA Championship final 10 times in those 14 appearances. The Cardinal has captured four national championships (2002, 2011, 2012, 2014), finished second six times, and finished third four times.
Since 1996, Stanford has also captured five MPSF Tournament titles (2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2014). The program has also racked up an impressive 495-81 (.859) record over that time.
Also in that time span, Stanford student-athletes have collected 94 ACWPC All-America honors as well as 95 selections to the various All-MPSF teams. On seven occasions a Stanford student-athlete has taken home player of the year honors. Brenda Villa earned the award in 2001, Jackie Frank claimed it in two consecutive years (2002 and 2003), Annika Dries was honored in 2011 and 2014, Kiley Neushul in 2012 and Melissa Seidemann in 2013.
Villa (2002), Frank (2003), Dries (2011 and 2014), Kiley Neushul (2012) and Melissa Seidemann (2013) have each also claimed the prestigious Peter J. Cutino Award, presented annually by the Olympic Club to the country’s top female collegiate player. Seven additional Cardinal have been finalists for the award as well.
Brenda Villa (’03) remains the only Cardinal student-athlete to have earned first-team All-America honors in each of her seasons at Stanford (2001-03).
But it has not only been the classroom where the Cardinal has excelled, as the program has had 140 ACWPC All-Academic selections and 133 MPSF All-Academic nods since 1998.
Nine Stanford alumnae have also had the honor of representing Stanford at the Olympic Games since women’s water polo was added to the Games in 2000. At the 2012 London Games, Villa, Jessica Steffens, Annika Dries, Melissa Seidemann and Maggie Steffens paced the United States to its first Olympic Gold Medal, with Maggie Steffens being named MVP after scoring a tournament-best 21 goals.
Villa is the only Cardinal alumna to have been on the U.S. team for all four tournaments, earning a gold medal (2012), two silver medals (2000 and 2008) and a bronze medal (2004).
Ellen Estes, a member of the U.S. teams at the 2000 Sydney Games and the 2004 Athens Games, and Jessica Steffens, who made her first Olympic appearance at the 2008 Beijing Games, are Stanford’s two-time Olympians. Margie Dingeldein (2004), Jackie Frank (2004) and Alison Gregorka (2008) have all made an appearance on Team USA.
Thanks in part to the play and leadership from that group, the U.S. holds the distinction of being the only nation to medal in all four of the Olympic women’s water polo tournaments.
Stanford has reached the NCAA Championship final 10 times in those 14 appearances. The Cardinal has captured four national championships (2002, 2011, 2012, 2014), finished second six times, and finished third four times.
Since 1996, Stanford has also captured five MPSF Tournament titles (2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2014). The program has also racked up an impressive 495-81 (.859) record over that time.
Also in that time span, Stanford student-athletes have collected 94 ACWPC All-America honors as well as 95 selections to the various All-MPSF teams. On seven occasions a Stanford student-athlete has taken home player of the year honors. Brenda Villa earned the award in 2001, Jackie Frank claimed it in two consecutive years (2002 and 2003), Annika Dries was honored in 2011 and 2014, Kiley Neushul in 2012 and Melissa Seidemann in 2013.
Villa (2002), Frank (2003), Dries (2011 and 2014), Kiley Neushul (2012) and Melissa Seidemann (2013) have each also claimed the prestigious Peter J. Cutino Award, presented annually by the Olympic Club to the country’s top female collegiate player. Seven additional Cardinal have been finalists for the award as well.
Brenda Villa (’03) remains the only Cardinal student-athlete to have earned first-team All-America honors in each of her seasons at Stanford (2001-03).
But it has not only been the classroom where the Cardinal has excelled, as the program has had 140 ACWPC All-Academic selections and 133 MPSF All-Academic nods since 1998.
Nine Stanford alumnae have also had the honor of representing Stanford at the Olympic Games since women’s water polo was added to the Games in 2000. At the 2012 London Games, Villa, Jessica Steffens, Annika Dries, Melissa Seidemann and Maggie Steffens paced the United States to its first Olympic Gold Medal, with Maggie Steffens being named MVP after scoring a tournament-best 21 goals.
Villa is the only Cardinal alumna to have been on the U.S. team for all four tournaments, earning a gold medal (2012), two silver medals (2000 and 2008) and a bronze medal (2004).
Ellen Estes, a member of the U.S. teams at the 2000 Sydney Games and the 2004 Athens Games, and Jessica Steffens, who made her first Olympic appearance at the 2008 Beijing Games, are Stanford’s two-time Olympians. Margie Dingeldein (2004), Jackie Frank (2004) and Alison Gregorka (2008) have all made an appearance on Team USA.
Thanks in part to the play and leadership from that group, the U.S. holds the distinction of being the only nation to medal in all four of the Olympic women’s water polo tournaments.
