The 2008 Mercyhurst team qualified for Easterns. Will the 2009 team repeat the feat?

Erie, Pa. – Mercyhurst College head coach Curtis Robinette announced the addition of eight student-athletes to the Lakers' women's water polo team for the 2009 season.

Hope Rozelle (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo), Laura Perez (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley), Nikki Nelson (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central), Alyssa Katerberg (Grandville, Mich./Jenison), Tara Bouma (Jenison, Mich./Jenison), Laura Hennessey (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn), Kimmy Goodhart (Reading, Pa./Reading) and Jessica Clemente (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) bring a great deal of talent and depth to a Lakers' squad that graduated six seniors this past spring.

A 5'-8" goaltender, Rozelle led her squad to a second place finish in the Palomar League with 323 saves and a .657 save percentage last season. For her efforts, Rozelle earned spots on the All-Palomar and All-CIF First Teams while garnishing a spot on the San Diego Section Second Team.

Perez was a key utility player over the past several seasons for Mother McAuley. In 2008 she was named a First Team NISCA All-America selection and the MCAC Senior Player of the Year. She also made four consecutive appearances on the All-State team.

A 5'-9" driver, Nelson transfers to Mercyhurst after spending a year with the club water polo team at Illinois State University in Naperville, Ill. Prior to college, Nelson was a prolific player at Naperville Central High School, burying 213 goals with 125 assists and 259 steals. She was an All-State and All-Section honoree three times during her career.

Katerberg, a 5'-5" center,  is transferring from Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Mich., where she took a year off from competition. During her senior season at Jenison High School, Katerberg reeled off 110 goals to earn spots on the All-Conference, All-Region and All-State second teams. She was also elected to the Selected Advance Newspapers All-Area Water polo team that same year.

Bouma, a 5'-7" driver, reunites with former teammate Katerberg on the Lakers’ roster this fall. A two-year varsity member in high school, Bouma was picked to represent her team on the All-Conference and All-West Region second teams her senior season.

A 5'-6" driver from Lansdale, Pa., Hennessey brings a great deal of championship experience to the Lakers. As a member of the North Penn water polo team, she had a hand in her club’s back-to-back state championships in 2006 and 2007 and three consecutive Keystone Games Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Clemente, a 5'-8" goaltender, joins the Lakers after a successful run at Wilson. During her career, Clemente helped her team to four consecutive top-four finishes at states, claiming the state championship in 2005-06. She earned several accolades during that time including All-County and All-State Honorable Mention.

An All-Berks County and All-State team selection in 2007 for Reading H.S., Goodhart should be an immediate impact player at center for Mercyhurst this year.