May 11, 2011
National Collegiate Championship - Friday, May 13-15 - Ann Arbor, Mich.
Quarterfinal Round - 3 p.m. PT
No. 1 Stanford (25-1)
- vs. -
No. 8 Iona (26-7)
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2011 National Collegiate Championship Central
2011 Postseason Notes 
STANFORD, Calif. - Top-ranked Stanford women's water polo travels to Ann Arbor, Mich. to open up play at the 2011 National Collegiate Championship, opening the national-title tournament Friday, May 13 against No. 8 seed Iona at 3 p.m. PT.
Last Time Out
The Cardinal took third place at the MPSF Championship in San Jose two weekends ago, suffering its first setback of the 2011 season in the process.
After a quarterfinal win over Arizona State to open up tournament play, Stanford dropped its first decision of the year, falling 9-8 in the semifinal round to fourth-seeded UCLA. However, Stanford rebounded to end the weekend on a positive note with a 15-5 rout of host San Jose State in the third-place game.
Sophomore two-meter Annika Dries was named to the MPSF All-Tournament Team for her weekend performance in which she shared the Cardinal scoring lead with seven goals. Pallavi Menon also scored seven times in the tournament, with six of her goals coming in the third-place game win over San Jose State. Alyssa Lo scored five times while Melissa Seidemann added four goals.
Goalies Amber Oland and Kate Baldoni combined to make 37 saves over the three games.
About The Opposition
Iona (26-7), the MAAC champion, enters this weekend's National Collegiate Championship as the eighth seed, having earned the spot in the final eight with a 13-7 win over SCIAC champion Redlands in an NCAA Play-In game on May 7.
The Gaels, winners of 14 straight heading into Friday's contest, are led by the scoring of Maggie Wood (109 goals), Amy Olson (68) and MacKenzie Mone (66).
In the cage, Kathleen Link is averaging 9.67 saves per game.
Friday's meeting will be the first ever between Stanford and Iona.
In The National Rankings
The Cardinal remained atop the Varsity Top 20 Poll this week, and has been in the No. 1 spot since the beginning of the season.
Stanford Goes For Second NCAA Title
Stanford will be the top seed for the second straight season at this weekend's National Collegiate Championship in Ann Arbor, Mich., and will be going for its second NCAA title. The Cardinal won its only title in 2002.
Stanford does hold the distinction of being the only school to make the National Collegiate Championship every year (2001-Present) since the NCAA first sponsored a women's water polo championship in 2001. Over its previous 10 appearances, the Cardinal has won one national title (2002), finished second on five occasions (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010) and taken third four times (2004, 2006, 2008-09).
Stanford Cleans Up With All-MPSF Honors
Stanford was well-represented when the MPSF announced its all-conference awards and teams two weeks ago. Sophomore two-meter Annika Dries took home the MPSF Player of the Year award, becoming Stanford's third different player to earn the award and first since Brenda Villa in 2003.
Dries and junior two-meter Melissa Seidemann were each named to the All-MPSF First Team, senior goalie Amber Oland earned a spot on the second team while Kim Krueger and Alyssa Lo were named honorable mention. Freshman Kaley Dodson earned a spot on the All-Newcomer Team.
Show Me The D
Stanford enters this weekend's National Collegiate Championship with the top defense in the MPSF, not to mention the nation, allowing just 4.73 goals per game. That figure is due largely to the play of its one-two goalkeeping punch of senior Amber Oland and sophomore Kate Baldoni. So far this season, Oland, Stanford's four-year No. 1, is making 7.71 saves per game and allowing just 4.98 goals a game, while Baldoni leads the conference with a 3.86 GAA and averages 7.31 goals per game.
Threats Everywhere
Stanford's MPSF-leading offense (12.31 goals per game) has been so effective this season thanks in part to the versatility of its parts. The Cardinal boasts six players that have scored at least 25 goals so far in 2011. Annika Dries leads the pack with 58, while Melissa Seidemann is next with 44, followed by Alyssa Lo (38), Pallavi Menon (31), Kim Krueger (30) and Kaley Dodson (26).
Stanford Completes Another Unbeaten Home Season
April 22's 17-5 win over San Jose State wrapped up Stanford's home slate for 2011, as the Cardinal finished the year 7-0 at Avery Aquatic Center. It marked the second straight season that the Cardinal has turned in an unbeaten record at its home pool, bringing the overall home winning streak to 17 games dating back to the beginning of the 2010 campaign.
Among The MPSF Leaders
Through the MPSF statistical rankings of May 2, Stanford was represented in the top-20 among the conference leaders. Annika Dries ranks third in the conference with 2.23 goals per game, while Melissa Seidemann is tied for ninth with a 1.69 average and Alyssa Lo 19th with a 1.46 figure.
On the defensive side of things, goalies Amber Oland and Kate Baldoni are among the top of the list. Baldoni leads the MPSF with a 3.86 goals-against average while Oland is third with a 4.98 figure. Oland's 7.71 saves per game ranks sixth in the MPSF, with Baldoni's figure of 7.31 ranking eighth.
In the team rankings, Stanford leads the loop in both offense and defense, scoring 12.31 goals per game while allowing just 4.73 a game.