Ann Arbor, Mich.----Sophomore Victoria Smith scored five times in two matches as #9-San Jose State University split a pair of matches against top-15 teams in first-day action at the Michigan Kick-Off women's water polo tournament.

            The Spartans (1-1) topped #14-Indiana University, 12-10, and was outlasted by #7-San Diego State, 10-9, at the Canham Natatorium on the University of Michigan campus.

            Smith and team captain Rachel Henry each scored three times in the season-opening win. Henry's three came in a 4:31 burst near the end of the third quarter breaking an 8-8 tie and gave the Spartans an 11-9 lead with 3:45 remaining in the contest.

Timi Molnar, Anna Natalizio and freshman Rae Lekness add two goals for the Spartans (1-0) apiece in the win over Indiana.

            In the nightcap, San Jose State scored the first two goals of the match, but trailed 7-4 at halftime. Twice, the Spartans came within a goal including Smith's second of the match came with 2:16 left in the fourth quarter. Smith's last score turned out to the final tally in the match. San Jose State was unable to score a game-tying goal in its final two possessions.

            "I was disappointed in how we played. We have a lot of stuff to work on. We're going to see how we can straighten things out tonight," said San Jose State head coach Lou Tully.

            "We didn't play well enough to win (the San Diego State match). We made a lot of mistakes on offense and defense. Their kick-outs were created by our poor passing and holding on to the ball."

            Lekness and Natalizio matched their two-goal efforts in the opener with two more scores each against the Aztecs. Seyfurt and Orla Brazell each for the cage for the first time this season in the San Diego State match.

            "Rae is going to score goals. We had a hard time getting the ball to her," Tully said about his freshman from Calgary that played on the 2012 Canadian National 18-and-under team.

            "Vicki is our best player right now on defense and offense. She won all her sprints today and is really playing well," the San Jose State coach said about his sophomore from Vancouver, B.C.

            San Jose State goalkeeper Maddie Reardon was credited with seven saves in each of the two matches.

            The Spartans conclude their play in the two-day tournament on January 20 facing host #11-Michigan at 8:00 a.m. (EST) and Colorado State (0-2) at 1:25 p.m. (EST).

Michigan Kick-Off Women's Water Polo Tournament
Canham Natatorium, Ann Arbor, Mich.
January 19, 2013

San Jose State - Rachel Henry, Victoria Smith, 3, each; Anna Natalizio, Timi Molnar, Rae Lekness, 2, each.

Goalkeeper Saves

Indiana - Jessica Gaudreault, 7.

San Jose State - Maddie Reardon, 7.

Indiana - 7. San Jose State - 14.

Goal Scoring
San Jose State - Victoria Smith, Rae Lekness, Anna Natalizio, 2, each; Timi Molnar, Orla Brazell, Bianca Seyfert, 1, each.

San Diego State - Amber Pezzolla, 4; Samantha Voigt, Tori Long, 2, each; Taelor Moreno, Juliana Matos, 1, each.

Goalkeeper Saves

San Jose State - Maddie Reardon, 7. San Diego State - Rachel Mitchell, 13.

Ejections

San Jose State -10, San Diego State - 6.