Fresno State Athletics
Benson tabs five commits for 2019 season
11/10/2017 12:57:00 PM | Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State water polo took a step in further building its foundation this week as head coach Natalie Benson has signed five student-athletes to NLIs during the early signing period. The five commits will be set to join the program for its second season in 2018-19.Â
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Emily Diacono – Utility (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Tesoro HS/SET Water Polo Club)
NLI received: November 8, 8:37 a.m.
Prep Accolades: 2014-15 South Coast Second Team… 2015-16 Scholar Athlete… 2015-16 Varsity Water Polo MVP… 2015-16 South Coast First Team… 20115-16 USAWP Academic All-American… 2015-16 Varsity Water Polo Captain… 2016-17 Scholar Athlete… 2016-17 Varsity MVP… 2016-17 Seaview First Team… 2016-17 All-CIF Division 5… Third place finish at 2016 National Junior Olympics… Recorded 225 goals, 231 steals and 83 assists during high school tenure.
Benson's Comments: "Emily has been on our radar for some time now, as she exemplifies the values of our program. She plays with strength and determination, but is also a selfless and gracious teammate. She will add to our team with her size, her ability to shoot, as well as her defensive presence in the 2-meter position. Her experience playing high-level water polo will help our team have competitive training sessions, as well as adding to the depth of our squad."
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Kyla Whitelock – Attacker (Laguna Beach, Calif./Laguna Beach HS/SET Water Polo Club)
NLI received: November 9, 8:11 a.m.
Prep Accolades: Set records in the 200 free and 400 free relays… JV captain both sophomore and junior year… All-CIF sophomore and junior year… Helped her team to Division 1 Championships in 2016-17… Competed in Junior Olympics with SET from 2014-18… Traveled to Greece and Italy with SET.
Benson's Comments: "Kyla is a kid that our staff just had to have on our team. Her maturity, work ethic, perspective, and ability all point to her having success at the next level. She has developed so much in the past year and will continue to make strides when she arrives on campus. Her defensive awareness, leg strength, length, and speed will be her immediate contributions right from the start."
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Yesenia Preciado – Attacker/Center (Ontario, Calif./Ontario HS/Foothill Water Polo Club)
NLI received: November 9, 8:51 a.m.
Prep Accolades: Mt. Baldy League First Team and MVP freshman year… Mt. Baldy League First Team and MVP sophomore year… Mt. Baldy League First Team junior year… Set CIF Water Polo record for goals in a season… 2011-18 member of Foothill Water Polo Club… 2011-17 Junior Olympics participant.
Benson's Comments: "While soft spoken, Yesenia is a physical presence in the water. Her ability to set, defend, and shoot adds needed versatility to our team, and will contribute to our ability to attack the opponent with different looks. She will improve exponentially with the rigors of college training, and I look forward to working with her in the fall."
Brooke Barlow – Center (Corona, Calif./Santiago HS)
NLI received: November 9, 11:12 a.m.
Prep Accolades: 2015-16 Second Team All-League… 2016-17 First Team All-League… All-CIF First Team… Top 10 All-Area… 2017-18 Team Captain… Olympic Development Program participant in 2016-17… Competed in Junior Olympics from 2014-17.
Benson's Comments: "Brooke will come in and add a presence to the center position with her size, strength, and skill. She is tough to defend, and will be a difficult assignment for the defenders we face. I am excited to work with her and see how she develops with collegiate training and competition."
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Sienna Jagielski – Attacker (Glendora, Calif./St. Lucy's Priory HS)
NLI received: November 9, 2:55 p.m.
Prep Accolades: Senior year captain… 2015 & 2017 Gold Medal winner at Junior Olympics… First Team All-League in sophomore and junior seasons… CIF All-Area Honorable Mention freshman year.
Benson's Comments: "Sienna will contribute to our program with her high-level experience, game intelligence, and competitive spirit. She is a difficult offensive match up, and will bring her dynamic speed and shooting ability to our program. She buys into what we are trying to build, and is excited to be a part of an emerging program."
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"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
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Emily Diacono – Utility (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Tesoro HS/SET Water Polo Club)
NLI received: November 8, 8:37 a.m.
Prep Accolades: 2014-15 South Coast Second Team… 2015-16 Scholar Athlete… 2015-16 Varsity Water Polo MVP… 2015-16 South Coast First Team… 20115-16 USAWP Academic All-American… 2015-16 Varsity Water Polo Captain… 2016-17 Scholar Athlete… 2016-17 Varsity MVP… 2016-17 Seaview First Team… 2016-17 All-CIF Division 5… Third place finish at 2016 National Junior Olympics… Recorded 225 goals, 231 steals and 83 assists during high school tenure.
Benson's Comments: "Emily has been on our radar for some time now, as she exemplifies the values of our program. She plays with strength and determination, but is also a selfless and gracious teammate. She will add to our team with her size, her ability to shoot, as well as her defensive presence in the 2-meter position. Her experience playing high-level water polo will help our team have competitive training sessions, as well as adding to the depth of our squad."
Â
Kyla Whitelock – Attacker (Laguna Beach, Calif./Laguna Beach HS/SET Water Polo Club)
NLI received: November 9, 8:11 a.m.
Prep Accolades: Set records in the 200 free and 400 free relays… JV captain both sophomore and junior year… All-CIF sophomore and junior year… Helped her team to Division 1 Championships in 2016-17… Competed in Junior Olympics with SET from 2014-18… Traveled to Greece and Italy with SET.
Benson's Comments: "Kyla is a kid that our staff just had to have on our team. Her maturity, work ethic, perspective, and ability all point to her having success at the next level. She has developed so much in the past year and will continue to make strides when she arrives on campus. Her defensive awareness, leg strength, length, and speed will be her immediate contributions right from the start."
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Yesenia Preciado – Attacker/Center (Ontario, Calif./Ontario HS/Foothill Water Polo Club)
NLI received: November 9, 8:51 a.m.
Prep Accolades: Mt. Baldy League First Team and MVP freshman year… Mt. Baldy League First Team and MVP sophomore year… Mt. Baldy League First Team junior year… Set CIF Water Polo record for goals in a season… 2011-18 member of Foothill Water Polo Club… 2011-17 Junior Olympics participant.
Benson's Comments: "While soft spoken, Yesenia is a physical presence in the water. Her ability to set, defend, and shoot adds needed versatility to our team, and will contribute to our ability to attack the opponent with different looks. She will improve exponentially with the rigors of college training, and I look forward to working with her in the fall."
Brooke Barlow – Center (Corona, Calif./Santiago HS)
NLI received: November 9, 11:12 a.m.
Prep Accolades: 2015-16 Second Team All-League… 2016-17 First Team All-League… All-CIF First Team… Top 10 All-Area… 2017-18 Team Captain… Olympic Development Program participant in 2016-17… Competed in Junior Olympics from 2014-17.
Benson's Comments: "Brooke will come in and add a presence to the center position with her size, strength, and skill. She is tough to defend, and will be a difficult assignment for the defenders we face. I am excited to work with her and see how she develops with collegiate training and competition."
Â
Sienna Jagielski – Attacker (Glendora, Calif./St. Lucy's Priory HS)
NLI received: November 9, 2:55 p.m.
Prep Accolades: Senior year captain… 2015 & 2017 Gold Medal winner at Junior Olympics… First Team All-League in sophomore and junior seasons… CIF All-Area Honorable Mention freshman year.
Benson's Comments: "Sienna will contribute to our program with her high-level experience, game intelligence, and competitive spirit. She is a difficult offensive match up, and will bring her dynamic speed and shooting ability to our program. She buys into what we are trying to build, and is excited to be a part of an emerging program."
Â
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â fresnostatewp
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Â
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