Water Polo’s Wolff Announces 2024-25 Recruiting Class

July 17, 2024

PHILADELPHIA – La Salle women's water polo head coach James Wolff has announced his second recruiting class since arriving at 20th and Olney last season. This class consists of four additions to the roster, including three from the United States and one from Spain.

The Explorers are coming off an exciting 2024 campaign which saw the program defeat Big 5 rival Villanova all three times they faced off, defeat a ranked opponent for the first time since 2021, and earn its fourth straight berth in the MAAC Championships.

Lauren Ellis, Andi Moriarity, Sara Quirante Taali, and Samantha Richardson will take the pool with the Explorers for the 2025 season.

Lauren Ellis

Ellis arrives at 20th and Olney from Manteca, California. The attacker began her water polo career at Ripon Aquatics where she played for seven years. She switched to join Big Valley Aquatics when she was 17. Ellis played for Sierra High School where she was a team captain beginning her sophomore year. She was named VOL All-League First Team as a sophomore and senior, and Second Team as a junior. The highlight of her career came in her senior season where Ellis set a program record 98 goals in one season.

Lauren Ellis is a talented attacker formerly representing the Big Valley Water Polo Club. This same club produced current record setting goalkeeper Lily Kirby. The skills that Lauren has will translate to the college level. Her ability to put the ball in the cage will add to an already potent offensive attack. I look forward to her development with our program and I can see her being a vital piece of our offensive attack. She possess' the ability to multi task with academics and water polo. This skill set will greatly enhance her college experience and add to an already high achieving group of student-athletes.

Coach Wolff

Andi Moriarity

Moriarity, another attacker, comes to Philadelphia from Chicago. A late bloomer, Moriarity became a star in her junior and senior seasons. As a junior, she was named Second Team All-Conference and Second Team All-Sectional while helping lead Mother McAuley High School to finish as 2023 state runner up. During her senior season, Moriarity was named Team MVP, First Team All-Conference and All-Sectional, as well as Fourth Team All-State.

It brings me great joy to welcome Andi to 20th and Olney. Her dynamic attacking style mixed with her incredible fitness will allow her to compete at the Division 1 level. She has committed herself to developing her water polo IQ and has seen great strides in her development. What excites me the most is her accelerated development in such a short time. Our coaching staff is confident that once she is on campus her development will accelerate and will be certainly adding to our deep roster!

Coach Wolff

Sara Quirante Taali

Quirante Taali hails from Spain, same as last season's breakout star Martina Bonet Saez. The center defender trained with both Club Natacio Terrassa and Club Natacio Manresa. With Natacio Manresa, she played with the second team, helping it place second in the First Division of the Catalan League and earn a Spanish First Division Championship as the top scorer on the team. With Natacio Terrassa, she played on the senior team last season, helping the squad compete in the Honor Division and Champions League.

We are very excited to add Sara Quirante Taali to our program. We expect her to come in and compete for the the starting center defender spot. Her international experience will bring great value to an experienced roster. Her ability to transition from center back to front court attack will greatly enhance our counter attack game. The coaching staff expects Sara to bring a dynamic piece to our 6-5 attack as well as maintain a strong presence at two meters!"

Coach Wolff

Samantha Richardson

Richardson, a life-long swimmer from the water polo hotbed of San Diego, joins the Explorers as an attacker. A star in the pool and in the classroom for San Diego Shores and Patrick Henry High School. She was named to the City Conference All-Academic Team and was named Scholar Athlete all four years of High School for both Swimming and Water Polo.

I am very pleased to welcome Sam Richardson to La Salle University. She comes from the San Diego Shores Water Polo club, which is one of the best club programs in the United States. Her fundamental skills and well-rounded knowledge of the game will allow her to transition to the college level. I have the up most confidence that her work ethic will translate to pool and classroom. She will to uphold the values that La Salle Water Polo holds so close.

Coach Wolff

Print Friendly Version