The 2025 Bucknell Women's Water Polo team enters the season planning to build upon the positives gained during last year's campaign. While the record (6-21, 2-8 CWPA) was not ideal, plenty of players earned valuable experience and notched pool minutes that should pay dividends. The team plans to return to the upper CWPA ranks where the program has historically resided. With offensive growth, some defensive fortitude, and good fortune, Bucknell Water Polo will swim with the best of them. (All quotes are from Head Coach John McBride)
The 2025 schedule includes many invitationals, weekends filled with conference and regional events, and several exciting trips. The season starts tomorrow with the Princeton Invite where Bucknell faces known foes La Salle, Siena, and Wagner. The VMI Invite (Feb. 1-2) features Gannon, McKendree, Mount St. Mary's, and Toronto in a Canadian touch.
The Bucknell Invitational will take place Feb. 8-9. Six teams will participate, and Bucknell will begin conference play against Mercyhurst and Saint Francis. La Salle and Siena will fill out the rest of the weekend's schedule.
The Bison head to New England two weeks later (Feb. 22-23) to face Brown, Harvard, and Princeton in a trio of CWPA games.
Then, it is spring break in California, where Bucknell begins with games against Long Beach State (March 11) and Concordia University Irvine (March 12) followed by the Aztec Invite. The Orange & Blue will face conference foe Michigan and Southern Cal on March 14 and Cal State Fullerton and San Diego State on March 15.
The team remains on the road at the Wolverine Invitational (March 22-23) for three conference contests against Mercyhurst, Michigan, and Saint Francis with a game versus Salem rounding out the weekend. Bucknell returns to Michigan (April 6-7) for three more conference clashes versus Harvard, Michigan, and Brown. The regular season concludes with a home match versus Princeton on April 12.
Brown hosts the 2025 CWPA Championships on April 25-27. Bucknell went 0-2 at last year's championships and will look to avoid repeating that fate.
"It is a tough schedule with lots of games. We have a roster big enough to sustain itself through that number of games."
The CWPA will be its traditional difficult and deep self. Mercyhurst joins the conference this year as part of its transition from Division II to Division I returning the association to seven teams.
"Everyone seems to be strong and brought in good recruiting classes. We will see what happens. We are looking to return where we were in the past: beating the Ivies."
Bucknell boasts a deep and talented attacker position group headlined by South African Olympian Boati Motau, who registered a 2023 CWPA Honorable Mention, for her 24 goals. Fellow South African Caitlin Stott totaled 15 goals. Sophomore Campbell Collins recorded 12 goals as a freshman. Regan Coon scored 12 goals. Freshmen Ava Bayne, Ashley Hopper, and Olivia Hopper add to the talent pool.
"We have many young and new athletes who bring action to the offense. All the freshmen will be impactful and see playing time. We are very deep in the position."
The four centers Malli Challa, Izzy Lippolis, Anna Plante, and Bella Schraa bring experienced minutes to the pool as upperclassmen. Schraa was the third-leading scorer in 2024 with 20 goals. Gwen Kallmeyer headlines the utility position scoring 42 goals over her first two seasons.
"We are excited about the central defenders and utility positions. We have plenty of depth and will be able to rest players."
The Bison have one goalkeeper but Tamara Torkos is tenacious in the cage gathering 221 saves in 27 games, defending the goal like Janos Hunyadi. The Hungarian sophomore will play every minute and has the energy for the task.
"She is go-to goalie and a stalwart in the cage. We are excited to have her back in the position."
The Bucknell women's water polo has all the ingredients necessary to return to prominence. The season starts soon and the team has high spirits. They are a must-watch this year at Kinney.