Fresno State Athletics
Benson inks program’s first recruiting class
11/21/2016 1:30:00 PM | Water Polo
Fresno State signs eight student-athletes to NLIs during the early signing period.
FRESNO, Calif. – The foundation for the Fresno State water polo program has taken shape during the past two weeks as head coach Natalie Benson has signed nine student-athletes during this year's early signing period. The nine will be part of the Bulldogs' first team in school history which will begin competition in January 2018.
Callie Woodruff – Utility (Fresno, Calif./Clovis/Rose Bowl)
NLI received Nov. 9, 1:14 p.m.
Prep accolades: TISCA State Champions, 2014; TISCA Athlete of the Year, 2014-15; TISCA South Region MVP; NISCA All-American first team, 2015; NISCA All-American second team, 2014; National Junior Olympics All-America honorable mention, 2013 and 2015; ODP Women's Youth National Team member, 2015; Cadet National Team member, 2014; Developmental National Team member, 2013.
Benson's comments: "I'm very excited that Callie is joining our program. She exemplifies what our program will become, as she is strong, tough, physical and aggressive. She loves to win, and will push people in practice every day to be better. She's going to be a big part of our program moving forward."
Hannah Duggins – Goalie (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West/Royal 559)
NLI received Nov. 10, 8:27 a.m.
Prep accolades: CIF Valley Team 2014-15, Water Polo Co-TRAC champions, 2016-17; member of Royal 559 which placed first at Junior Olympic Qualifiers, 2016.
Benson's comments: "Hannah has an athleticism that coaches love to see in goalkeepers, and with her fantastic attitude and work ethic, she will grow to have a strong presence in the cage. Her personality lends her to being an amazing and inclusive teammate, and will have an immense impact on the solidarity of our locker room."
Maddie Loggins – Attacker (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West/680)
NLI received Nov. 10, 8:27 a.m.
Prep accolades: NISCA All-American, 2013 and 2015; KAI Cal-Hi, 2013-15; All-CIF Central Section, 2013-15; ALL TRAC, 2013-15; Fresno Bee All-Star, 2013-15; Clovis West Defensive MVP, 2013-15; USA Water Polo Development National Team member, 2012; Cadet National Team member, 2014; TRAC champions, 2013-16; CIF Valley Champs, 2014.
Benson's comments: "Maddie brings a lot of experience as she plays for a high-level club, 680 in Northern California, and has the Valley Strong personality. Her experience will be invaluable for our team moving forward. She's smart, physical and brings good size to the program. She'll be able to contribute through her ability to attack and shoot, and the poise with which she plays will contribute to our defensive effort."
Jillian Gross – Defender (Corona, Calif./Santiago/CHAWP)
NLI received - Nov. 10, 2:43 p.m.
Prep accolades: member of Olympic Development program; four-year Junior Olympics participant; All-League second team.
Benson's comments: "She's long, fast and will provide a great defensive presence. Jillian will also be able to contribute on the offensive end with her shooting ability. She fits in really well with the qualities of our team and the Valley."
Megan Greenwood – Center (Sanger, Calif./Sanger/Royal 559)
NLI received - Nov. 10, 2:43 p.m.
Prep accolades: Four-time ODP A-Team member; Undefeated CMAC champions, 2013-16; member of Royal 559 which placed first at Junior Olympic Qualifiers, 2016. Royal finished 11th at US Club championships, 2016; member of Clovis Elite which placed first at Junior Olympic Qualifiers, 2016; Clovis Elite finished 16th at Junior Olympics, 2015; nine-time CMAC individual champion in swimming; first team all-league swimmer.
Benson's comments: "Megan provides us with size in the middle and gives us a presence in the center position. Valley strong, she's one of the players that will have the attitude and effort that is required for us to be a competitive team moving forward."
Shannon Crow – Attacker (Clovis, Calif./Clovis North/Royal 559)
NLI received – Nov. 11, 10:29 a.m.
Prep accolades: Second team all-league, 2015; second team All-Valley, 2015; competed in 2015 Central Valley All-Star game; Junior Olympics participant, 2013-14 and 2016.
Benson's comments: "A fourth-generation Bulldog, Shannon is an exceptional student-athlete that exemplifies Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred. Her work ethic and attitude will contribute to the culture of our growing program, and collegiate training and experience will bring out her true potential."
Sydney Coachman – Defender (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek/Viper Pigeon)
NLI received – Nov. 14, 3:53 p.m.
Prep accolades: All-State MVP, 2016; all-state first team, 2015; all-state second team, 2014; all-region first team, 2014-15; academic all-American, 2014-15; outstanding academic all-American, 2015-16; Junior Olympics participant; 2013-16.
Benson's comments: "Sydney will fit in well with our system of play as well as the cultural expectations of our Bulldog program. She is intent on learning and improving, and has the length, speed and defensive presence to contribute to our program."
Elsie Judy – Attacker (Alameda, Calif./Alameda/680)
NLI received – Nov. 15, 9:40 a.m.
Prep accolades: WACC first team all-league, 2014 and 2015-16 (unanimous selection); WACC honorable mention, 2013; second team All-North Coast section, 2015; four-year Junior Olympic participant.
Benson's comments: "Elsie competes for a high-level club in Northern California, and brings great competitive playing experience to our program. She has a great athletic presence and the desire to contribute to our new program."
Natalie Espinoza – Utility (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal/Rose Bowl)
NLI received – Nov. 15, 9:49 a.m.
Prep accolades: Helped Royal High School to back-to-back Division 4 championships, 2014-15 and 2015-16; participant in Olympic Development program.
Benson's comments: "Natalie provides great versatility for our program. She can defend, she can set and she can play the attacker position. Her versatility will be a great attribute to bring into the program in our developing years."
Callie Woodruff – Utility (Fresno, Calif./Clovis/Rose Bowl)
NLI received Nov. 9, 1:14 p.m.
Prep accolades: TISCA State Champions, 2014; TISCA Athlete of the Year, 2014-15; TISCA South Region MVP; NISCA All-American first team, 2015; NISCA All-American second team, 2014; National Junior Olympics All-America honorable mention, 2013 and 2015; ODP Women's Youth National Team member, 2015; Cadet National Team member, 2014; Developmental National Team member, 2013.
Benson's comments: "I'm very excited that Callie is joining our program. She exemplifies what our program will become, as she is strong, tough, physical and aggressive. She loves to win, and will push people in practice every day to be better. She's going to be a big part of our program moving forward."
Hannah Duggins – Goalie (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West/Royal 559)
NLI received Nov. 10, 8:27 a.m.
Prep accolades: CIF Valley Team 2014-15, Water Polo Co-TRAC champions, 2016-17; member of Royal 559 which placed first at Junior Olympic Qualifiers, 2016.
Benson's comments: "Hannah has an athleticism that coaches love to see in goalkeepers, and with her fantastic attitude and work ethic, she will grow to have a strong presence in the cage. Her personality lends her to being an amazing and inclusive teammate, and will have an immense impact on the solidarity of our locker room."
Maddie Loggins – Attacker (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West/680)
NLI received Nov. 10, 8:27 a.m.
Prep accolades: NISCA All-American, 2013 and 2015; KAI Cal-Hi, 2013-15; All-CIF Central Section, 2013-15; ALL TRAC, 2013-15; Fresno Bee All-Star, 2013-15; Clovis West Defensive MVP, 2013-15; USA Water Polo Development National Team member, 2012; Cadet National Team member, 2014; TRAC champions, 2013-16; CIF Valley Champs, 2014.
Benson's comments: "Maddie brings a lot of experience as she plays for a high-level club, 680 in Northern California, and has the Valley Strong personality. Her experience will be invaluable for our team moving forward. She's smart, physical and brings good size to the program. She'll be able to contribute through her ability to attack and shoot, and the poise with which she plays will contribute to our defensive effort."
Jillian Gross – Defender (Corona, Calif./Santiago/CHAWP)
NLI received - Nov. 10, 2:43 p.m.
Prep accolades: member of Olympic Development program; four-year Junior Olympics participant; All-League second team.
Benson's comments: "She's long, fast and will provide a great defensive presence. Jillian will also be able to contribute on the offensive end with her shooting ability. She fits in really well with the qualities of our team and the Valley."
Megan Greenwood – Center (Sanger, Calif./Sanger/Royal 559)
NLI received - Nov. 10, 2:43 p.m.
Prep accolades: Four-time ODP A-Team member; Undefeated CMAC champions, 2013-16; member of Royal 559 which placed first at Junior Olympic Qualifiers, 2016. Royal finished 11th at US Club championships, 2016; member of Clovis Elite which placed first at Junior Olympic Qualifiers, 2016; Clovis Elite finished 16th at Junior Olympics, 2015; nine-time CMAC individual champion in swimming; first team all-league swimmer.
Benson's comments: "Megan provides us with size in the middle and gives us a presence in the center position. Valley strong, she's one of the players that will have the attitude and effort that is required for us to be a competitive team moving forward."
Shannon Crow – Attacker (Clovis, Calif./Clovis North/Royal 559)
NLI received – Nov. 11, 10:29 a.m.
Prep accolades: Second team all-league, 2015; second team All-Valley, 2015; competed in 2015 Central Valley All-Star game; Junior Olympics participant, 2013-14 and 2016.
Benson's comments: "A fourth-generation Bulldog, Shannon is an exceptional student-athlete that exemplifies Bulldog Born, Bulldog Bred. Her work ethic and attitude will contribute to the culture of our growing program, and collegiate training and experience will bring out her true potential."
Sydney Coachman – Defender (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek/Viper Pigeon)
NLI received – Nov. 14, 3:53 p.m.
Prep accolades: All-State MVP, 2016; all-state first team, 2015; all-state second team, 2014; all-region first team, 2014-15; academic all-American, 2014-15; outstanding academic all-American, 2015-16; Junior Olympics participant; 2013-16.
Benson's comments: "Sydney will fit in well with our system of play as well as the cultural expectations of our Bulldog program. She is intent on learning and improving, and has the length, speed and defensive presence to contribute to our program."
Elsie Judy – Attacker (Alameda, Calif./Alameda/680)
NLI received – Nov. 15, 9:40 a.m.
Prep accolades: WACC first team all-league, 2014 and 2015-16 (unanimous selection); WACC honorable mention, 2013; second team All-North Coast section, 2015; four-year Junior Olympic participant.
Benson's comments: "Elsie competes for a high-level club in Northern California, and brings great competitive playing experience to our program. She has a great athletic presence and the desire to contribute to our new program."
Natalie Espinoza – Utility (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal/Rose Bowl)
NLI received – Nov. 15, 9:49 a.m.
Prep accolades: Helped Royal High School to back-to-back Division 4 championships, 2014-15 and 2015-16; participant in Olympic Development program.
Benson's comments: "Natalie provides great versatility for our program. She can defend, she can set and she can play the attacker position. Her versatility will be a great attribute to bring into the program in our developing years."
WP Media Availability [1/12/26]
Monday, January 12
Water Polo 2025 Bass Lake team retreat vlog
Tuesday, October 28
WP: GCC Championship Quarterfinal vs CUI [4.25.25]
Saturday, April 26
WP highlight vs CUI [2.22.25]
Saturday, February 22