Harbor goalie Vickers to join UCI water polo team

Newport Harbor High senior Morgan Vickers has signed a national letter of intent to continue her water polo career at UC Irvine.

Vickers said she talked to Anteaters Coach Dan Klatt quite a bit during the recruiting process, and she was also considering USC. She was given a partial scholarship to attend UCI.

“I love UCI,” Vickers said. “The school is gorgeous. When [Klatt] offered me a scholarship to come and play water polo, it was something I didn’t want to pass up.”

Vickers, a two-year starter at goalie, made 189 saves her senior year in helping Newport Harbor to the CIF Southern Section Division I title. A first-team All-Sunset League and first-team All-Division I selection, she was also named to the Daily Pilot Dream Team.

As a senior for the Sailors, she was named to the all-tournament team at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions and Irvine Southern California Championships. She said she’ll start at UCI with an undeclared major but will likely transfer into the business program.

The Anteaters women’s water polo team, which also features Newport Harbor alumna Ashling Taylor, went 16-12 last season and finished 10th at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championships. Next year, the program will join the Big West Conference.

“I’m happy to be an Anteater,” Vickers said.

— Matt Szabo