USC Adds Six Water Polo Recruits

LOS ANGELES, California, November 27. USC water polo coach Jovan Vavic has inked another solid incoming class of athletes, signing six players to letters of intent as the newest members of the USC women's water polo team. Joining the Women of Troy for 2007-08 will be Kristen Dronberger, Kathryn Indvik, Jessica Kutcher, Stephanie Lavayan, Courtney Ray and Sarah Van Norman.

"What we did is we really filled in the positions where we need the most help," USC head coach Jovan Vavic said of replacing the center strength of 2006 graduate Moriah Van Norman and probable 2008 redshirt Kami Craig, as well as graduating senior lefties Brittany Hayes and Jana Wenger. "We really needed more help in those positions, and I feel we really covered our positions. This is a very talented and very promising class of players."

The six newcomers are all California natives, hailing from strong high school programs from Sacramento to San Diego who already have made an impact in their CIF sections. Kristen Dronberger is the Trojans' latest Northern California addition, coming to USC as a 5-9 two-meter player out of Rio Americano High School in Sacramento. She was an All-Metro honoree as a junior and brings some good strength to the center position.

"Kutcher, Van Norman, Dronberger and Indvik were all part of the USA Youth Team," Vavic said. "It's interesting because three of can them play the two-meter position. Kutcher, Van Norman and Dronberger are all offensive two-meter players. Kutcher can also play two-meter defense, and Dronberger can be a utility player too. Indvik is a great addition as well, as she was the youngest player at the Speedo Top 40 Festival last year."

Left-handed Kathryn Indvik is coming off a powerful junior year at Corona del Mar High School in which she was named to the CIF Southern Section Division II First Team after CDM claimed the CIF championship in 2006.

Another All-CIF selection in the recruiting class is Jessica Kutcher out of Foothill High School. Kutcher was a third team selection after her team reached the CIF Southern Section Division I semifinals. She also is a member of the U.S. Youth National Team, recently competing alongside U.S. senior national team players at the Speedo Top 40 tournament in Los Alamitos, Calif. Also hailing from a CIF semifinalist squad is Santa Margarita High School's Stephanie Lavayen. Lavayen also received CIF third team honors as a junior.

Courtney Ray comes to the Trojans from Mira Costa High School, which reached the CIF Southern Section Division II semifinals in 2006. A 5-7 goalie, Ray brings a talented young presence to the cage for the Women of Troy.

Rounding out USC's incoming class of talent is San Diego standout Sarah Van Norman. Van Norman hails from Bishop's School, and was named CIF Player of the Year for the San Diego Section as a junior. Another member of the U.S. Youth National Team, Van Norman's strength at the two-meter position is a crucial addition to the USC roster. With sophomore center Kami Craig a potential candidate to redshirt the 2008 season as a U.S. Olympian (likely alongside Sarah's older sister Moriah), Sarah's place in the USC lineup is eagerly anticipated.

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