Alison Mantel

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Six current members of the University of Michigan water polo team will participate in the 2009 U.S. Women's National Team open tryout on Sunday (Sept. 27) at Canham Natatorium. The current crop of Wolverines will be seeking to follow the same path that led former Michigan goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong (2002-05) to the national team.

Senior Leah Robertson (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport Harbor), juniors Alison Mantel(Miami, Fla./Gulliver) and Cara Reitz (Miami, Fla./Gulliver), sophomore Meagan Cobb (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) and freshmen Alex Adamson (Coronado, Calif./Coronado) and Kiki Golden (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) will all showcase their talents for a shot at playing for USA Water Polo.

The tryouts open up athletes for possible training selection for the Senior "A", Senior "B", Junior and Youth teams. In addition, there is the possibility for an invitation to the Speedo Top 40 held at the USA Water Polo Training Center from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25 in Los Alamitos, Calif.

Robertson is seeking her third invitation to the Speedo Top 40 and a return to the national stage after playing with the U.S. Women's Senior National "B" Team for the 2008 Born In '88 Championship. Mantel, who coming off of her first All-America season with the Wolverines, and Reitz, one of three U-M captains, will be seeking their first invitation. Cobb will be seeking a return trip to the Speedo Top 40 after making the cut at the open tryouts in 2008. Adamson has been participating in the U.S. national program since 2004 and is a three-time Junior Olympic All-America. Golden, a three-time NISCA/Speedo High School All-American is coming off a second-place finish at the 2009 S&R Sport USA Water Polo Girl's Junior Olympics.

Armstrong, who wrapped up her U-M career as the program leader in blocks (1,267), minutes (3,329), goals-against average (5.64) and save percentage (.654), earned a spot on the national team at a similar open tryout in May of 2006. While playing under her nation's banner, Armstrong has become Team USA's top goalie in gold medal runs at the XV Pan American Games and the last two FINA National Championship as well as a silver medal push at the Beijing Olympics.

USA National Team head coach Adam Krikorian will be the head evaluator for USA Water Polo for the tryout in Ann Arbor. Krikorian is in his first year at the helm of the national team following a prolific 10-year run as head coach for UCLA.

The tryouts will be held in three locations beyond Ann Arbor, including Harvard University's Blodgett Pool, Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., and the USA Water Polo National Training Center.

Release courtesy Michigan Athletic Communications