Paloma Valley girls water polo team wins first league title

Paloma Valley High School water polo players celebrate the Sunbelt League championship. Photo courtesy of Paloma Valley Athletics

Five years ago, Paloma Valley High School's first girls water polo team competed in the new pool at the Drop Zone in Perris and began to face CIF Southern Section competition. The first year, the Wildcats were 0-7. In their first three years, according to maxpreps.com, Paloma had a combined record of 6-28.

Two years later, the Wildcats are league champions, having won every Sunbelt League game and compiling a 16-7 overall record heading into the CIF playoffs.

Sarah Freeman scored 5 goals, made 3 steals and had 2 assists Wednesday to lead the Wildcats to an 8-0 victory over Canyon Springs in the championship game of the league's postseason tournament. The CIF office will announce the playoff match-ups on Saturday.

Megan Freeman contributed to the victory with 8 field blocks in goal in the shutout. Lorie Stuart finished with 5 steals and an assist and Kenzy Handal had 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 field blocks. The defense played so well, the shot clock expired without a shot attempt by the opposition 7 times, reported coach Joe Ellett.

In Ellett's two seasons as coach, the Wildcats have a combined record of 29-19.