The Orange Lutheran girls water polo team is entering the year in the midst of a historic run. As two-time defending Trinity League champions and CIF-SS Open Division champions, as well as reigning CIF Division 1 SoCal Regional champions, the team made history last season with a remarkable 31-0 record.
 
So how does a team build upon perfection? For OLu girls water polo head coach Brenda Villa, the answer lies in recognizing that every season brings a fresh start.
 
"It's one of those things where everyone likes to talk about it, but it's a new season," says Villa.
 
The Lancers are returning several key members of that championship roster, including senior goalkeeper Kyla Pranajaya (San Diego State), fellow seniors Jailynn Robinson (UCLA), Kate Sloman (USC) and Michelle Urkov (UCI), as well as junior Allison Cohen.
 
The lineup will also include players such as juniors Cali Craft and Estelle Karaba, along with sophomore Eve Webb.
 
"I think our biggest goal or objective is how do we bring in the players that were not in rotations last year, and how do we solidify roles and make sure that everyone's in the right place to make it work well," says Villa.
 
In order to help prepare the team to play their best water polo at the end of February, Villa has the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions (January 9) and the Newport Invite (January 23) on the schedule this season. Non-league matches include Foothill (December 6), Oaks Christian (January 17) and San Marcos (January 18), and Trinity League play begins January 16 when OLu hosts JSerra.
 
The Lancers kick off their title defense on November 26 when they host Laguna Beach. Villa is excited to watch the girls strengthen their bond and grow together as a team.
 
"I love seeing their relationships in and out of the water and how they continue to build," says Villa. "We've done well, we are this great unit and we represent ourselves and our school in the right way. Regardless of all the storms we will face this year, at the end of the day, whatever the result, that's really where I'm trying to focus. We are competitive, but it's also about making sure that they know that there's more to it…It's bigger than water polo."