Season two of Salem University women's water polo gets underway Saturday as the Tigers spend the weekend in the City of Brotherly Love for their first four games of 2020. The Tigers are at Villanova University this morning, then face St. Francis College-Brooklyn this afternoon in the first of three games in the La Salle Invite. The Tigers take on George Washington University and tournament host La Salle University Sunday.
 
In its first year back in the pool after a seven-year absence, Salem posted a 14-14 record in 2019 under head coach Justin Kassab. The Tigers finished the regular season on a seven-game winning streak and finished sixth in the Western Water Polo Association Tournament.
 
If Salem was under the radar last year, the Tigers have gotten people's attention this year. Salem received one first-place vote and was picked third in the 2020 WWPA Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference head coaches.
 
Last season, Salem split its two games with La Salle – both by identical scores of 11-9 – and withstood a late rally for a 15-14 victory over Villanova.
 
The Tigers return starting goalkeeper Philippa Piper and virtually all of their scoring offense from last season. Salem returners accounted for 284 of the Tigers' 288 goals last season.
 
Margherita Garibbo tallied 69 goals and 38 assists to lead the team with 107 points. Annefleur ten Bloemendal scored a team-high 71 goals to go with 29 assists. Maryanna Antoniou was next with 47 goals, followed by Chloe Woodbine with 36 goals, Erin Zappia with 30 goals, Beatrice Popescu with 22 goals and Camryn Cotter with nine goals.
 
Zappia was 48-26 in sprints last year. Piper played all 870 minutes in goal and recorded a 9.70 goals against average and a .546 save percentage.
 
Antoniou is the lone senior on the squad, while the rest of the returnees are all sophomores or sophomore-eligible. Freshmen Elizabeth Elliott and Courtney O'Shaughnessy join the Tigers this season.
 
Salem will be on the road for competitions each of the next six weekends before getting a weekend off for Spring Break. The Tigers play host to Mercyhurst University and Gannon University March 28 for the Salem Invite.
 
The 2020 WWPA Championship is slated for April 24-26 at Fresno, Calif.