Two former Pepperdine water polo players, Clayton Snyder and J.P. MacDonell, will represent the United States as part of the B-team in Shenzen, China, for the World University Games from Aug. 11 to 23. MacDonell and Snyder, who graduated in 2010, have been training in Irvine at the University of California, Irvine.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” MacDonell said. “My favorite holiday is the 4th of July, and being able to wear our country’s colors is special. I’m looking forward to going to Asia and representing the United States and Pepperdine at the World University Games.”
Last year, both Snyder and MacDonell spent time playing in Italy. Snyder played for SC Quinto, becoming one of the top 10 scorers in the league, and MacDonell helped club team Promogest finish seventh out of 12 teams in the Classifica Giorne S with 30 points and a record of 9-10-3. Of this month’s championship Snyder said, “It’s an honor. I look forward to putting on those red, white and blue warm-ups and cap and jumping in the water to compete.”
In another sport, current Pepperdine volleyball player Cailtin Racich will pair with Sara Hughes, to form the USA-2 team at 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch Junior World Championships Halifax in Canada for players under 21 years old from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4.
