LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI women's water polo team will be in action this weekend for the first time in over a year, playing three matches at Villanova University Saturday and Sunday.

No spectators will be allowed.

The Keydets will open their 2021 season Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against Salem University (W. Va.) and follow with games Sunday against Mount St. Mary's University (Md.) at 10:30 a.m. and Saint Francis University (Pa.) at 2:30 p.m. All the matches will be held at the Villanova Swim Complex. VMI will play the host school in a scrimmage to kickoff the action Saturday at 9:30 a.m.  

"We are beyond grateful to have the opportunity to play games again, after almost an entire year of being away," said head coach Danielle Montenegro. "The team is excited to compete once again, despite all the challenges we have faced this year to get to this point. We are looking forward to some non-conference play to get us back into the swing of things."

VMI has several important pieces back from its 2020 team that went 12-1 in a Covid-19 shortened season. Red-shirt junior McKenna Imset earned pre-season first-team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) honors for the second-straight season.
She led the team in goals (45) and points (56) as a red-shirt sophomore and ranked second in the MAAC in goals per game (3.46) and tied for fourth in total goals. Junior Makenna Moore was third on the team in 2020 with 40 points and second with 26 assists. Junior Genevieve Petrassi also returns after scoring 25 goals, second on the squad, as does senior Zoe Salafatinos (18g, 16a).