FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAPMAN SPLITS FOUR GAMES IN WATER POLO TOURNAMENT

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women’s water polo team came out even in its season-opening Chapman Tournament, hosted by the Panthers at the Orange High School Pool last weekend. Chapman, ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division III, defeated the University of Oregon 5-4 in the fifth place game to conclude the tournament.

After dropping their season opener 7-6 to U.C. San Diego club team on Saturday morning, the Panthers rebounded to defeat the University of Utah club team 15-7 in the second game of the day. Sophomore utility Jennifer Manship scored eight goals, assisted on two others, earned six steals and four ejections in the victory. Meanwhile senior goalie Constance McMorris made 11 blocks for Chapman.

In the tournament’s most important game for the Panthers, facing No. 7 Occidental on Sunday, the Tigers jumped out to a 7-2 halftime lead and cruised to a 15-6 win. Manship scored five of Chapman’s six goals in the loss, which sent the Panthers into the tournament’s fifth place game against Oregon. Manship scored the game-winner against the Ducks with 5:28 remaining in the fourth quarter to snap a 4-4 tie. The sophomore scored all five goals for Chapman (2-2). McMorris made another 11 blocks in the cage.

Manship was named to the All-Tournament team with 22 goals in the four games. Occidental pulled off a minor upset by knocking off No. 5 Whittier in the tournament’s championship game by a score of 9-7.

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