Terps Sign Two for 2010-11
11/28/2009 7:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Nov. 28, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland water polo team inked two players - Maddie Murphy of Coronado, Calif., and Katie Ermakova of nearly Columbia, Md. - to national letters of intent during the November signing period. The pair will join the Terps for the 2010-11 season.
"Both girls are expected to have an immediate impact on the team, especially on the offense end of the pool," said Maryland head coach Carl Salyer.
Ermakova, originally from Russia, has received the MVP of the Tournament award twice, once with "Navy Aquatics" who placed first overall in Oct. 2008, and again for the Water Polo Girls Junior Olympics, Gold Division in August of 2008.
Ermakova also made the U.S. Junior National Training Camp of Olympic Development Women's program last summer and was captain of the Navy High School Club in 2008-09.
She was a member of several local water polo clubs including the Navy Aquatics Club in Annapolis 2007-2009 and Rockville Water Polo Club 2009. Ermakova also was a member of "SKIF," a team in Moscow, Russia from 2004-06 and won the bronze medal in the Russia championship (2005-06).
"We are excited about keeping one of the top prospects in the country home, here at Maryland, for the next four years," Salyer said of Ermakova.
Murphy received the 2009 coaches award, was awarded varsity letters in both swimming and water polo, and CIF victories in 2008 and 2009.
"She is a tremendous athlete and a strong player on both the offensive and defensive ends of the pool." Salyer said. "Maddy also will bring a great ability to score the ball from anywhere in the pool."
With the loss of eight seniors last year, Murphy and Ermakova will join a youthful team.
"We think they are great additions to a team that already has youth and a lot of offensive firepower, [which] will help us continue to improve as a program for the next four years," said coach.
