The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's water polo team are set to defend their provincial banner at the second annual National Collegiate Water Polo championship, November 24-26, in Ottawa.
 
As the No. 1 seed, the Varsity Blues will open the championship on Saturday afternoon where they will face the winner of the Queen's/Ottawa game in semi-final action at 2:20 p.m.
 
Should the Blues be victorious, they would advance to the gold-medal match on Sunday at 12:30 p.m., with the bronze-medal match scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
 
The Varsity Blues have been atop the province for the past four consecutive seasons, winning last season's inaugural NCWP title with a dominant 12-2 championship final victory over the McMaster Marauders. Prior to that, the Blues claimed the last three OUA banners (2013-15). Toronto will be looking for their ninth provincial championship dating back to their first in 1988-89.
 
The Blue and White return a pair of 2016 NCWP all-stars in fourth-year offensive threat Alexandra Kraft and fifth-year defensive stalwart Ana Miroslavic.
 
A native of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, Kraft has been a force up front for the Blues at her centre forward position, utilizing her strength in the water to outmaneuver and outmuscle opponents.
 
Meanwhile, a Toronto native, Miroslavic has guided U of T's offensive attack and defensive assignments from centre defence with veteran savvy and a high sport IQ.
 
The Blues will also have the added defensive benefit of second-year goalie Rachael Jaffe in net. The second-year life sciences major competed as a member of Team Canada at the U20 World Championships this past summer, her first time representing Canada on the international stage.  
 
U of T opened their 2017 campaign serving as hosts for the annual U of T Invitational, where they completed a 4-0 sweep of their OUA competition. The Blues then followed that up with another 4-0 outing at the Queen's Invitational, making it eight straight wins over their provincial challengers. No Ontario team has come within four goals in any match heading into this weekend's provincial championship.
 
Toronto has also impressed south of the border with a 5-4 record versus American competitors this season. The Blues challenged NCAA top 25 nationally ranked teams such as Indiana University and Wagner College, while picking up wins over Siena College, La Salle University, St. Francis College – Brooklyn, Carthage College, and Lindenwood University.
 
For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visit www.varsityblues.ca. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat and Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics.