The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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WATER POLO PROFILE After losing a deep and talented senior class from the 2013 season, the Michigan water polo team knew it would be young this year. The Wolverines have 19 freshmen and sophomores on their roster, with just three seniors and two juniors to lead the way with upperclassmen experience. That makes senior captain attacker Kelsey Nolan's job even tougher, but she is up to the task. "I knew, losing so many seniors last year, that I was going to have to step up and take a bigger role," Nolan said. "In the offseason, I did a lot of training, and I got into CrossFit train- ing, to build up my cardio and endur- ance. That has really helped me in the water this year. I feel a lot stronger, and I am in much better shape." Nolan has always been a prolific offensive player for the Wolverines. As a junior last year, she ranked third on the team in points (53), fifth in goals (38) and fourth in assists (25). As a sophomore, she ranked second in points (69), third in goals (39) and second in assists (30), and she added 39 points, 20 goals and 19 assists as a freshman. This year, Nolan has been charged with taking a more aggressive ap- proach to the offense end of the pool. In U-M's first seven games, she racked up 12 goals — six more than anyone else on the team — and two assists. "What Kelsey is doing doesn't sur- prise me," Michigan head coach Matt Anderson said. "It is a little harder your senior year when you know other teams are keying on you. Se- niors always get keyed on a little bit more. The fact that she has been able to continue to play at a high level is what I expect out of her. Kelsey Nolan Leads The Way For Young Wolverines, Including Her Sister Nolan racked up a team-leading 12 goals — six more than anybody else on the squad — in the Wolverines' first seven contests. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS