GIRLS’ WATER POLO

FIRST TEAM

Cara Chlebicki, MARINA UTILITY SR.

Chlebicki, like player of the year Amber Stachowski, is a junior national team member. Her all-around play helped the Vikings win a share of the Sunset League title and reach the Division I quarterfinals, where they lost to Foothill. Her defense and unselfishness set her apart. Named Sunset co-MVP with Los Alamitos’ Drue Wawrzynski. Has signed with California.

Gabbie Domanic, FOOTHILL UTILITY SO.

One of the Knights’ three super sophomores, Domanic is one of the county’s fastest swimmers. She was dangerous on the counterattack and also has a powerful shot and quick moves at two meters. She shared the team lead in scoring with Brittany Hayes, finishing with 78 goals. Domanic is a member of the U.S. youth team.

Emily Feher, FOOTHILL GOALIE SO.

Feher may have benefited from playing behind perhaps the county’s best defense; still, she made 234 saves to top the team record of 217 she set last season. She gave up fewer than three goals per game, including a stretch where she gave up only one goal in the first four games of Foothill’s Irvine Southern California Championships title run.

Erika Figge, SANTA MARGARITA TWO METERS SO.

Another jewel in the sophomore class, she showed her versatility this season as she helped the Eagles reach the Division I final. A strong defender and quick swimmer, Figge, a U.S. youth team member, is also one of the county’s best playmakers, and the Eagles ran much of their offense through her. She finished with a team-leading 70 goals.

Brittany Hayes, FOOTHILL UTILITY SO.

She scored 78 goals to share the team lead. Hayes scored with equal ease from two meters, the perimeter or on the counterattack. Sixteen seconds into the Division I semifinal game against Capistrano Valley, she drew an ejection on the county’s best defender, Amber Stachowski, earning the Knights a four-meter penalty shot.

Kristina Kunkel, SANTA MARGARITA TWO METERS JR.

Big, rangy and talented, Kunkel, a U.S. youth team member, finished with 67 goals, second on the team behind Figge. She was equally dangerous from two meters or the perimeter, and she has one of the county’s hardest and most accurate shots. She was also a tough defender at two meters and, with her long reach, created problems for opponents.

Amber Stachowski, CAPISTRANO VALLEY TWO METERS SR.

There aren’t many honors left for Stachowski at this level. She is a U.S. junior team member and returning first-team Times’ Orange County pick. She has signed to play at UCLA. At nearly 6 feet, she is quick, tenacious and feared as a defender. Her quick hands and powerful shot forced opponents to commit two, sometimes three defenders to her.

SECOND TEAM

KATHERINE BELDEN, Newport Harbor, utility, Jr.

Although not flashy, this solid all-around player led her team in scoring, assists, steals and drawn ejections. The Sea View MVP also led the Sailors to the league title and the Division I quarterfinals, where they lost in quadruple overtime to El Toro, 7-6.

KE’ALA CARTER, El Toro, two meters, Jr.

At 5 feet 7, she isn’t the most imposing figure in the water, but opponents readily recognize her talent. Carter broke the school’s single-season scoring record and led the Chargers to the Division I semifinals.

LAURA CASE, Laguna Beach, two meters, Sr.

A dangerous inside scoring threat, her 86 goals forced teams to focus their defensive attention on her, which freed up her teammate, Division IV MVP Teresa Codini. She shared the team lead in steals (73) with Codini and was second in assists (48).

TERESA CODINI, Laguna Beach, driver, Sr.

Earned Division IV MVP honors after leading the Artists to their first section title. She scored a team-high 105 goals and also led the team in assists (53) and shared the team lead in steals (73), helping the Artists finish 24-6 and earn a share of the PCL title.

CHRISTINA HEWKO, Corona del Mar, driver, So.

She was the team’s top defender and second-leading scorer. She helped the Sea Kings rebound from a slow start to win a share of the Pacific Coast title and reach the Division IV semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion Laguna Beach.

MERIDITH McCOLL, Capistrano Valley, goalie, So.

One of the most talented goalies in the section, she gave the Cougars three high-profile players, including Amber and Aimee Stachowski. A U.S. youth team member, McColl helped the Cougars win the South Coast title.

DRUE WAWRZYNSKI, Los Alamitos, two meters, Sr.

Another U.S. youth team member, she was the Griffins’ top scoring threat inside and helped them win a share of the Sunset title with Marina. A great athlete, Wawrzynski also started for the Griffin volleyball team.