Photo by: John Fajardo
Women’s Water Polo Adds Three International Players To 2025 Recruiting Class
7/9/2024 1:22:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
The Beach will add two newcomers from Spain and one from Hungary, all with junior International experience.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Head Coach Shana Welch and the Long Beach State Women's Water Polo coaching staff have announced the commitments of three new international recruits from Spain and Hungary in Rita Gurri Capel, Zelma Koka and Daniela Quinzada.
"We are excited to have Rita, Daniela, and Zelma join our Long Beach family this Fall," said Welch. "All three bring a high level of play, experience, and dedication to their craft that will make an immediate impact to our program. Each of them has represented their respective national teams, Daniela and Rita with team Spain and Zelma with team Hungary and we know they will be great additions to our program in and out of the water."
Rita Gurri Capel hails from Mataró, Spain, having played with both her local club team, Centre Natacio Mataro as well as the youth national team. Playing on the senior level with her club, her team on the senior league last year in 2024 and was the runner-up in 2023 in the championship league, senior league and queen's cup of Spain.
Daniela Quinzada is from Barcelona, where she played club water polo with Club Natacio Terrasa. With her club, she finished in third place in both the U16 and senior leagues, and was the runner up in the Catalonia Cup with the senior team. With the youth team, Quinzada also finished in second place at the U17 Spanish Championship in 2021.
Gurri Capel and Quinzada competed together for Spain on the international stage, the duo have three podium finishes in major youth competitions, coming in third place at the U15 European Championships, third at the U16 World Championships and finishing in second place at the U17 European Championships.
Koka joins the program from Budapest, Hungary, where she competed with Club UVSE. With UVSE, Koka won the Youth Hungarian Championship as well as a senior championship while competing in the Euro Cup. Participating in multiple junior national teams as well, Koka played at the U17 and U19 European Championships as well as the U18 and U20 World Championships with Hungary.
Long Beach State Women's Water Polo is riding a wave of momentum, finishing last season ranked No. 6 in the nation, the highest final ranking in 20 years.
"We are excited to have Rita, Daniela, and Zelma join our Long Beach family this Fall," said Welch. "All three bring a high level of play, experience, and dedication to their craft that will make an immediate impact to our program. Each of them has represented their respective national teams, Daniela and Rita with team Spain and Zelma with team Hungary and we know they will be great additions to our program in and out of the water."
Rita Gurri Capel hails from Mataró, Spain, having played with both her local club team, Centre Natacio Mataro as well as the youth national team. Playing on the senior level with her club, her team on the senior league last year in 2024 and was the runner-up in 2023 in the championship league, senior league and queen's cup of Spain.
Daniela Quinzada is from Barcelona, where she played club water polo with Club Natacio Terrasa. With her club, she finished in third place in both the U16 and senior leagues, and was the runner up in the Catalonia Cup with the senior team. With the youth team, Quinzada also finished in second place at the U17 Spanish Championship in 2021.
Gurri Capel and Quinzada competed together for Spain on the international stage, the duo have three podium finishes in major youth competitions, coming in third place at the U15 European Championships, third at the U16 World Championships and finishing in second place at the U17 European Championships.
Koka joins the program from Budapest, Hungary, where she competed with Club UVSE. With UVSE, Koka won the Youth Hungarian Championship as well as a senior championship while competing in the Euro Cup. Participating in multiple junior national teams as well, Koka played at the U17 and U19 European Championships as well as the U18 and U20 World Championships with Hungary.
Long Beach State Women's Water Polo is riding a wave of momentum, finishing last season ranked No. 6 in the nation, the highest final ranking in 20 years.
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