Advertisement

All-Desert Empire League girls' water polo team revealed: Xavier star named MVP

shad powers, palm springs desert sun
·2 min read

It was a banner year for one Desert Empire League team, literally, as the Indio Rajahs finished third in the regular season and went on to win the Division 6 CIF-SS title.

But it was the Xavier Prep Saints and Palm Desert Aztecs who were the top dogs in league play, and they were the ones highly represented on the recently released All-DEL girls' water polo team.

The champion Saints in particular were honored by having the Offensive MVP in senior Niamh Cooper and the defensive MVP in junior goalkeeper Daisy Armstrong. Joining that talented duo on the all-league first team from Xavier Prep were seniors Olivia Kim, Abby Eldridge and Maddie Quaid.

There were four Aztecs on the first team in sophomore Nadia Frutkin, sophomore Cierra Carr, junior Savannah Pena and senior Holly Thomas for an Aztecs team that picked up a pair of playoff wins, making the quarterfinals in Division 4.

Niamh Cooper (10) of Xavier Prep controls the ball against Villa Park during their CIF-SS Division 3 first-round playoff game at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center in Palm Desert, Calif., on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Villa Park won 8-3.
Niamh Cooper (10) of Xavier Prep controls the ball against Villa Park during their CIF-SS Division 3 first-round playoff game at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center in Palm Desert, Calif., on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Villa Park won 8-3.

The CIF-SS champion Rajahs had one player on the first team in senior Mia Buena Trevino. The rest of the first team consisted of Kamryn Mercado, a senior from La Quinta and Alaina Vega, a senior from Palm Springs. Mercado and the Blackhawks made a run in Division 6 as well, making it to the semifinals.

Here is the full 2024 All-Desert Empire League water polo team including first team, second team and honorable mention:

All-DEL Girls Water Polo Team

Offensive MVP: Niamh Cooper, Xavier Prep (12)

Defensive MVP: Daisy Armstrong, Xavier Prep (11)

Coach of the year: Pavol Valovic, Xavier Prep

FIRST TEAM

Olivia Kim, Xavier Prep (12)

Abby Eldridge, Xavier Prep (12)

Maddie Quaid, Xavier Prep (12)

Nadia Frutkin, Palm Desert (10)

Holly Thomas, Palm Desert (12)

Cierra Carr, Palm Desert (10)

Savannah Pena, Palm Desert (11)

Kamryn Mercado, La Quinta (12)

Mia Buelna Trevino, Indio (12)

Alaina Vega, Palm Springs (10)

SECOND TEAM

Whitney Benson, Xavier Prep (11)

Paulina Ansley, Palm Desert (10)

Hayden Trent, Palm Desert (10)

Riley Brunett, Palm Desert (11)

Sienna Rodriguez, Indio (12)

Jennifer Rawlings, Palm Springs (11)

Bella Williams, Palm Springs (12)

Amelia Apostol, Rancho Mirage (12)

Makayla Williams, Shadow Hills (12)

HONORABLE MENTION

Ava Otteson, Xavier Prep (10)

Daniella Campa, Xavier Prep (12)

Danielle Jan, Palm Desert (11)

Joliette Faraci, Palm Desert (9)

Adeline Valenzuela, La Quinta (12)

Kiera Martinolich, La Quinta (12)

Jennifer Lopez, Indio (12)

Alyssa Guenther, Indio (10)

Starr Slate, Palm Springs (10)

Emily Cash, Palm Springs (10)

Isabelle Roman, Cathedral City (11)

Valeria Hernandez, Cathedral City (11)

Savannah Cicogna, Rancho Mirage (9)

Evelyn Walker, Shadow Hills (12)

Gisele Santibanez, Shadow Hills (10)

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: All-Desert Empire League girls' water polo team: Xavier star named MVP