Team looks ahead to Bucknell Invitational

After graduating a class of seven players last year, IU water polo coach Barry King was left with the challenge of bringing in a large recruiting class to replace the graduates. Returning this season for the Hoosiers is a group of 10 players -- only two of them going into their senior year. \nMelissa Pietras and Kristy Streefkerk have had a helping hand in IU's five victories as each has picked up the slack on both ends of the pool. Pietras is second in scoring on the team with eight goals, while Streefkerk is second on the team with 11 steals.\n"My expectations are not any higher for them in the pool, however, I do expect more out of them when it comes to leadership," said King. "Their active and intense play on both sides of the ball sets an example of how we want our younger players to perform."\nPietras was fortunate enough to play two sports here at IU for a while as she swam her sophomore year in addition to playing water polo. \n"It was very fun to be able to do both, however on the other hand it was tough battling between swimming and water polo," said Pietras. \nThe Hudsonville, Mich., native has given the Hoosiers a spark early in the season. She has been a large part of three of IU's come-from-behind victories. Pietras has scored three game-tying goals -- all against ranked teams, in addition to contributing to a couple key defensive stops for the Hoosiers.\nStreefkerk, one the three Canadian players on the squad (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada), has been a force on defense. Streefkerk has made a few game-saving plays on defense, including a career-high four steals against No. 11 University of California-Santa Barbara at the UC-San Diego Invitational.\nPlaying for King the last four years, the duo has grown and seen the changes in the Hoosier water polo program.\n"We have obviously become a strong program, but most importantly we have been able to target some of the best recruits," said Pietras.\nIU, over the last four years, has looked to neighboring Canada for a group of solid players. The first of three to come to IU was Streefkerk, who during the past off-season has helped King woo Canadian Junior National players Janis Pardy and Kristin Zernicke. \nThe talented trio of Canadians has contributed diversity to the roster featuring a large contingency of players from California. But most importantly, the Canadians bring experience to the table as each of the three, including Streefkerk, has played on the international stage.\nBoth Pietras and Streefkerk are gearing up for their next invitational in Lewisburg, Penn., less than two weeks away. IU will face some stiff competition in Hartwick, Princeton, George Washington and Harvard Feb. 28 and 29. \nNo. 10 IU will play as one of the top seeds at the Bucknell Invitational, yet the seniors believe they are not getting any respect for their victories over top-ranked opponents. \n"There is a lack of expectation as not too many people believe we can make a run at the Final Four," said Streefkerk. "Our biggest challenge this season is to go out and play hard every match while ignoring the lack of expectation for us to do well. Going out and playing well, week in and week out will show everyone that IU deserves the title of one of the nation's top programs." \n-- Contact staff writer Matt Ostrega at mostrega@indiana.edu.