Robinson, Thomason, Williams Named Wolverine Captains
12/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan water polo head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi announced Tuesday (Dec. 9) that seniors Danielle Robinson and Elizabeth Williams and junior Ali Thomason have been named team captains for the 2015 season. The announcement comes at the conclusion of the Wolverines' first-semester practices.
"The guiding principles of our water polo program include culture, leadership and teamwork," said Leonardi. "A leader is a person that can enlist the aid or support of others in the accomplishment of a common task. Leaders can lead by example, leaders can be vocal when necessary, leaders can be nurturing when needed, and leaders can make sacrifices for the betterment of their team. Each of these individuals possesses specific traits that can be found in effective leaders. All three will help guide the 2014-15 team towards reaching their ultimate goals. Caitlin [Haskell] and I believe in them, and so do their teammates."
Robinson, a utility player, has compiled 17 goals, 36 assists and 43 steals over her two seasons at Michigan. She ranked second on the team with 29 assists last year and recorded three games with multiple steals. Robinson, who transferred in after a freshman year at Maryland, is a communication studies major.
Williams will serve as team captain for the second straight year. A defensive mainstay, Williams has appeared in nearly every Michigan game since her freshman year, accumulating 29 career goals, 25 assists and 52 steals. She has upped her offensive output in each season, posting career highs last year with 15 goals and 10 assists. A movement science major, she is a three-time AWPCA All-Academic and CWPA Scholar Athlete selection.
Thomason, an ACWPC All-America honorable mention selection in 2014, posted career highs in all major categories last season, including 37 goals, 23 assists and a team-leading 58 steals. She boasted a pair of four-goal games at the CWPA Championship and three games with five or more steals. A neuroscience major, she is a two-time AWPCA All-Academic and CWPA Scholar Athlete selection.
The Wolverines will open the 2015 season at the UCSB Winter Invite, scheduled for Jan. 23-25, in Santa Barbara, California. U-M will open the tournament against host UC Santa Barbara at 4:20 p.m. PST, before facing San Jose State, California, UC San Diego and CSU Bakersfield.
Communications Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
