Season Preview: Despite Many Changes, Saline's Water Polo Team Considered a State Power

Expectations are high for a Hornets girls water polo team that lost a heartbreaker in the state championship game last season.

Despite losing many girls to graduation and a few to year-round swim practice — and a change in coaching — the Hornets started the season ranked as the top team in the state by michiganwaterpolo.com.

“It’s a nice gesture, but I don’t put much stock in the early numbers,” said new head coach Mary Chatigny. “I won’t know if that ranking is relevant for a while.”

Chatigny, a native of Palm Springs, CA, played four years of water polo at the University of Michigan. She competed in more games than anyone in program history and was named captain in her junior and senior years. She teaches at Burns Park Elementary School in Ann Arbor.

“I saw the posting for the job and realized I wanted to stay involved with the sport,” said Chatigny, who has been busy getting to know the team.

The team is led by two senior captains, Stephenie Bundas and goalie Stephanie Bule.

Bundas, who plans to continue her water polo playing days at Siena College in Loudonville, NY, plays wherever the coach needs her, but her recent six-goal game suggests she’s most valuable on attack with the ball in her hands.

“She does everything for us," Chatigny said. "She’s kind of a utility player. She’ll drive in and post up, but she’s also valuable on defense, too.”

Senior Bailey Workman has also shown goal-scoring prowess early in the season.

In goal, Chatigny is rotating Bule with junior Emily Farsakian.

“We have two fantastic goalies, and I am comfortable with either one,” said Chatigny.

Also on the team are senior Karleen Koskinen, juniors Ellie Brigger, Lauren Cavanaugh, Marissa Hall-Burkhart, Kailey Kermath, Katie Saxton, Caitlin Sisken, Alex Wagner and Abbey Wroblieski, sophomores Erika Glatz and Katie Koemer, and freshman Hannah Lau.

With the Saline girls’ swim and dive team having won the state championship last fall, one would guess that the Lady Hornets have serious speed advantage in the pool. But that’s only partly true, Chatigny said.

“We do have a quick team, but it’s not necessarily because of the swim team," she said. "We’ve had several girls leave the team to focus on training for the fall.”

Saline started the season with a 10-0 record.

“We’ve been great," Chatigny said. "The key for is defense. The most we’ve given up is five or six goals. Our girls work hard as a team on defense.”

Early in the season, the Hornets are averaging 11.7 goals a game while giving up 2.7 goals a game.

With the No. 1 ranking and the hot start, Chatigny is keeping things simple.

“The goal for us is to show up every game with a game plan and then, win or lose, to do our best to compete and play at our highest level,” she said.