The Alameda High School (AHS) women’s water polo team defeated Castro Valley High on Saturday, Oct. 29 to win the West Alameda County Conference (WACC) tournament.

The team entered the tournament as the four seed out of eight teams due to their 5-2 conference record. In the first round the Hornets took care of Berkeley High, 9-5, on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at San Leandro High — all tournament games took place at San Leandro High.

In the semifinal, the Hornets faced their city rivals, and reigning WACC champions, Encinal High School (EHS) on Thursday, Oct. 27. The two rivals faced off in an epic match that went into double overtime with AHS eventually winning, 14-10.

The Jets were the one seed in the WACC tournament due to their 6-1 league record. EHS entered the matchup fresh off a resounding 22-1 victory over San Leandro High in the first round. The Hornets were looking to make it back-to-back wins over the Jets after beating them, 15-9, a week prior, the Jets' lone league defeat.

The Island Bowl more than lived up to expectations. Both teams gave the other side all they could handle, resulting in a game filled with many lead changes, ties, and momentum swinging moments. AHS juniors Zoe Seltzer (#3) and Ciara Blea-Salinas (#16) led the Hornets’ attack, scoring four and six goals, respectively. EHS junior Valentina Suarez (#2) led the Jets’ balanced offensive attack, which kept pace with the Hornets for most of the contest. However, the Jets missed two penalty shots, the second one saved by Alameda goalkeeper Kate Krautler who made six saves in the game. With the score tied at 7 at the end of regulation, the game went into overtime (two three-minute periods). In the extra periods, the Hornets took control of the match as they pulled away from their opponents and secured a hard-earned victory.

After the game, Alameda High women’s water polo head coach Elsie Judy spoke about how the game went for her team and the significance of beating their rival.

“The game was rough and stressful. We were hoping to win the Island Bowl and are happy that we won. They are always a good team to play and it's a fun rivalry as we are friends in and out of the pool. We were seeded fourth entering the tournament, but are now playing for first or second place,” Judy said.

AHS was able to get revenge for last year when the Jets defeated the Hornets, 12-4, in the WACC final. The Hornets had a much easier time in this year's final. They beat Castro Valley High, 8-3, on Saturday, Oct. 29. Encinal lost the WACC third-place match to Bishop O’Dowd, 10-5, on Saturday.

Both teams qualified for the North Coast Section Div. II women’s water polo tournament. The Hornets (18-8), the six seed out of 12 teams, will face Vintage High of Napa on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at Amador Valley High in Pleasanton. The Jets (19-8), the eight seed, will face Moreau Catholic of Hayward on Nov. 2, also at Amador Valley High.