April 21, 2012

USC sophomore goalie Flora Bolonyai has helped Team Hungary to a place at the coming 2012 Olympic Games in London thanks to a resounding win over Kazakhstan. The quarterfinal round at the Women's Water Polo Olympic Qualification Tournament were intense, with semifinal slots also securing a place in London. By the time the water settled in Trieste, Italy, the Olympic women's water polo field was complete. Along with Flora Bolonyai's Hungary team, former Trojan Sofia Konoukh has helped Russia qualify as well, putting Konoukh in position for her fourth Olympic appearance.

Konoukh had to face off against two other former Trojans in the crucial quarterfinal round, as Russia edged out Canada for the semifinal spot and trip to London. Canadians Joelle Bekhazi and Rosanna Tomiuk are recent USC grads. Another former Trojans, Ilse van der Meijden of the Netherlands, also came up just short of an Olympic spot when the Dutch team lost in the quarterfinals. van der Meijden and the Netherlands won gold in 2008 in Beijing.

So with Olympic qualification now under her cap, Flora Bolonyai is now set to return to USC to rejoin the Women of Troy for the coming MPSF Tournament next week to fight for a place at the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

In addition to Bolonyai (Hungary) and Konoukh (Russia), the USA Olympic roster -- due to be announced next month -- could well contain three more Trojans. Tumua Anae, Kami Craig and Lauren Wenger were all members of the U.S. squad that secured Olympic qualification earlier by means of winning the Pan-American Games. The complete 2012 Olympic women's water polo field is: Australia, China, Hungary, Italy, Great Britain, Russia, Spain and United States.