Ryann Neushul Leads U.S. to Inaugural 4×4 Water Polo Title
Led by Ryann Neushul, the United States won the first World Aquatics 4×4 Water Polo Crown in Dubrovnik, Croatia, this week.
The U.S. claimed a 3-0 sweep by scores of 4-1 4-3 and 2-0 against Spain in the final. Led by head coach Molly Cahill, the U.S. didn’t drop a set in the first-to-3 matches. It began with a 3-0 win over Spain (3-2, 4-0, 2-1) and also defeated Turkey (6-0, 5-1, 5-0), Greece (4-0, 7-0, 6-3) and South Africa (7-0, 6-0, 5-1).
The quarterfinal was a blanking of South Africa, 8-0, 9-0, 5-0. It bested Australia in the semifinals, 4-3, 5-0 and 7-1.
In the final, Rachel Fattal scored twice in the first set. Neushul had two in the second set after one in the first, but Jewel Roemer’s penalty shot was the decider with seven seconds left for the 4-3 win.
Jenna Flynn and Roemer scored in the final set. Lauren Steele blanked Spain in the final frame, Steele saving 64 percent of her shots in the tournament. She had 11 saves in the final, outdueling Mariona Terre, who was voted the top goalkeeper of the tournament for Spain.
Neushul had scored seven times in the semifinal. Flynn tallied three times, while Fattal, Roemer and Jordan Raney had two each. Steele made six saves.
Russia defeated Australia, 3-0 (4-3, 5-1, 6-3) for the bronze medal. Elvina Sitdikova scored six times in the final. Ekaterina Prokofyeva and Olga Lupinogina scored three times each. Jasmine Higgs had nine saves for Australia.
Croatia topped Turkiye, 3-1, in the fifth-place match. Greece beat South Africa, 3-0, for seventh.
Final Standings
- United States
- Spain
- Russia
- Australia
- Croatia
- Turkiye
- Greece
- South Africa
Media All Star Team
- Mariona Terre, Spain (Top goalkeeper)
- Jenna Flynn, USA
- Olga Lupinogina, Russia
- Ryann Neushul, USA (MVP)