Team's success earns Feb. Club of the Month honors

Sunday through Wednesday nights you'll find the UREC pool filled with bobbing, swim-capped heads, as the women's water polo club team practices to keep up their 7-1 season. Thanks in part to a 4-0 win at the University of Virginia tournament Feb. 23-24, the team was selected as February's Sports Club of the Month.

According to senior coach and captain Erin Burlovich, this is the team's fifth season and its first season self-coached. After losing their former coach, Scott Finney, when he moved to California, the women have counted on their close friendships and perseverance to lead the team. Senior Beth Hamilton said, "It's like you have 20 best friends who you get to see two hours every night."

Along with the two-hour practices four times a week, junior Joanne Kunin said many of the girls cross-train on the other days to prepare for intense matches.

Only one of this year's players, freshman Jen Morelli, had ever played the sport before coming to JMU. "We spend the majority of the fall semester teaching the basics of the game," Burlovich said.

Morelli's knowledge along with top scorer Burlovich and sophomore goalie Katie Loughlin has made JMU a top contender in the Collegiate Water Polo Association.

In its first conference tournament, the team beat home team UVa. twice, the University of Maryland and East Carolina University.

"Last season, we placed third in our conference, but we are looking very strong this year and hope to improve upon that." Burlovich said.

Despite the team's intense practice schedule, the members also make time for semiformals with the men's team, pregame spaghetti dinners and sleep overs. Along with team and social events, the women's water polo club does its part to give back to the Harrisonburg community.

"Our team is very community oriented and we are working on a tread-a-thon to raise money for the Harrisonburg Free Clinic," Kunin said. "We are also involved with Relay for Life and do the Warm-a-Winter Wish each year." In addition, the team worked concessions at this year's Green Valley Book Fair, with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer's Association.

Because of its club status, the women's water polo team also holds fund raisers to defer the costs of tournaments and equipment. "We work football and basketball concession stands, clean the Convocation Center and sponsor poster sales and venders as our main fundraisers," Burlovich said.

The next tournament for the team is April 6-7 at Penn State University, where JMU will face competition from PSU, University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After that, both the men's and women's team will venture to Chapel Hill for the University of North Carolina tournament April 13-14.

"It's our only time traveling with the men's team. Our alumni usually come to watch as well, which makes for a very fun, bonding weekend." Burlovich said. The women will finish up their season April 20-21 with championships hosted here at JMU.

The team keeps high hopes for continued success this season. "With the team we have this year, there is a good chance, if we keep up the intensity, we can come home undefeated," Hamilton said.
Anyone interested in getting involved with club water polo should check out the team's Web site at www.jmuwaterpolo.com.