Santa Clara University’s women’s water polo team has announced the addition of five new student-athletes for the 2027 season. The incoming class features athletes from California, Connecticut, and Hawaii, each bringing experience in both athletics and academics.
Taylor Chestnut, a utility player from Walnut Creek, California, joins after a notable career at Carondelet High School. She was part of teams that won consecutive NCS Open Division championships in 2024 and 2025—the school’s first section titles—and contributed to the 2025 CIF NorCal State Championship win. That year, her team finished with a 16–1 record and was ranked No. 1 nationally during the fall season. Chestnut is also recognized as a four-time USA Water Polo Outstanding Academic All-American and an eight-time NCS Presidential Scholar Athlete Award recipient. In club competition with Diablo Alliance, she achieved multiple Junior Olympics podium finishes and top-10 national results in the 16U division.
Shea Morris, an attacker from Greenwich High School in Connecticut, led her team in earned ejections as a sophomore and junior and topped assists as a junior. Over three years she scored 58 goals and participated in the NEZ ODP Nationals program, earning regional all-star honors in 2025.
Addison Shaw also comes from Greenwich High School as an attacker. A four-year varsity athlete who started from her sophomore year onward, Shaw received Defensive Player of the Year honors as a freshman and was named team MVP as a junior. She will serve as captain for the upcoming season. As a junior she recorded 23 goals, 30 assists, 32 steals, and nine exclusions over 15 games. Academically she is recognized as a multi-year USA Water Polo Academic All-American.
Alexi Sueoka arrives from Honolulu’s ‘Iolani School where she has been a four-year varsity starter and will captain her team in her senior year. Sueoka earned Overall Player of the Year honors in 2025 and Offensive Player of the Year recognition in 2024. She scored 122 goals across three seasons and helped ‘Iolani reach its first state championship tournament appearance since 2014. Sueoka is also an Academic All-American with international training experience through trips to Croatia and Malta.
Keira Walters joins from Poway High School near San Diego as a goalie who has served as captain since her junior year. Walters received Poway’s Titan Award for character in 2024 before being named Overall MVP and making the All-Palomar League team in 2025. She set school records for most goals scored by a goalie within single games, seasons, and across her career at Poway High School. Walters maintains strong academic standing with a GPA above 4.3 while participating actively in community service projects.
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