Newark Native Making A Splash in College Water Polo

Newark native Alyssa Hess made her return to Azusa Pacific University’s women’s water polo team this season, and kicked things off with a bang.

Hess scored a team-high four goals in a 12-8 victory over Fresno Pacific University on Jan. 19, according to the university’s athletics department website.

In a second match against Cal State Monterey Bay later that day, Hess scored a goal and nabbed two steals. The team put up a strong fight but ultimately fell 8-6.

The standout star, now in her junior year, set a single-season record for goals as a freshman at the So Cal private university in 2011. She sat out last year due to a torn ACL and made her triumphant return this month.

“It was really good to see Alyssa come back. She did so well in the first match that Monterey Bay did everything they could to stop her, and that really opened things up for everyone else,” coach Julie Snodgrass told university reporters.

Hess is joined by other impressive athletes on the team, including a trio of freshman who contributed four goals and seven saves between them in the season debut, according to the website.

Hess and her team will play against Cal State East Bay and University of the Pacific in Stockton this weekend, according to her mother, Kelly Hess.

Read more about Hess and her squad here.