Junior Women en route to Manchester

The New Zealand junior women’s water polo team departed on its journey to the 11th FINA World Women’s Junior Water Polo Championships in Volos, Greece on Friday evening.

The Silver Tide at Auckland International Airport on Friday (AUCKLAND-BRISBANE-DUBAI-MANCHESTER)

It has been a long and grueling road in preparation for the World Championships, especially with water polo’s governing body (FINA) changing the rules of the game, says team captain Ema Carević.

“When we heard that World Champs would be the new 5/5 rules, we were taken back as most of us had no experience with the new form of playing.”

Previously, six field players and one goalkeeper comprised both sides in the pool, however the number of field players has reduced to five since the rule change.

“We definitely enjoy the new playing style; 5/5 gives you more space in the pool but also leaves it down to a lot on personal play, faster swimming, harder shots and stronger legs.” said Carević.

The team’s buildup to the tournament has been promising, including playing as an invitational side at the Australian State Championships where they gained important experience in the new 5 on 5 format. The team also played and trained against the Kiwi youth men and the New Zealand Women’s side, who have just competed at the FINA World Championships in Russia.

Team captain Ema Carević in action at the Australian Under 20 State Champs

A young gun of the women’s side, 17-year-old Liana Dance, scored three goals in Russia and is also playing for the Junior Women’s team, come their first match on August 17th.

“This world champs has been such an awesome experience for me as a player,” said Dance, the side’s youngest player “seeing the best teams and players in the world in action in the pool is just incredible.”

Dance defends at the FINA Intercontinental Tournament at West Wave Aquatic Centre earlier this year

Dance will return to the junior side with some valuable experience under her wing from Kazan, as well as her European tour with the New Zealand Youth team earlier this year.

“Brazil have about four junior girls in their starting lineup here [in Kazan] so they’re going to be solid for us in Greece.”

World water polo power Hungary will also line up against the Kiwis, who Dance encountered earlier this year – “they will be our toughest team in the pool to beat.”

Boarding the plane on Friday night was a huge relief for the side, after FINA announced a venue change with just four weeks until the championships were set to begin. The shift even meant that two members of the side had to depart on different flights to Manchester.

“All the girls have positively adjusted to the location change from Mexico to Greece and are looking forward to spending some time in Manchester training with the Great Britain team beforehand.” said Ricci Ferigo, who is fresh out of a season of university water polo in America.

The New Zealand Junior Women land in Manchester on Saturday and will train and play at the Manchester Aquatic Centre and Beswick Pool.

Come Friday next week the team will move onto Volos, Greece, some 300kms from Athens.

The FINA World Women’s Junior Water Polo Championships kick off on Monday August 17th and run through until finals on Sunday 23rd.

The team and New Zealand Water Polo thank sponsors Eichardt’s Private Hotel, Murdoch Newell, CBRE, Altaine, Under Armour, Diapolo, and Sharp for their invaluable contributions in getting the team – which is largely self-funed – to the 2015 World Championships.

You can keep up with the Junior Women over the championships on their Facebook page ‘NZWP Junior Women 2015’, 'Silver Tide' page, and here on the New Zealand Women’s Water Polo website.

TEAM: Grace Tobin, Ema Carević, Taylor Sheehan, Liana Dance, Katie McKenty, Sarah Doyle, Emily Nicholson (North Harbour), Simone Couvée (Tauranga), Annabel Harman, Jessica Milicich, Ricci Ferigo (Marist).