BELGRADE, Serbia – The University of Hawai'i women's water polo team has three players representing their home country of Canada in the FISU World University Games which kicked off today in Belgrade, Serbia.

 

The World University Games, also known as the 25^th Summer Universiade, began July 1, running through July 12.

 

Serena Bredin, Saara Majuri and Monika Eggens are each representing UH and Canada at the games. Bredin and Majuri will each be juniors next season, while Eggens will be a sophomore.

 

The games consist of group play, before the medal rounds begin. The Canadian team faces Serbia, Japan and Russia, before moving on.

 

The Canadian team opened with a win against Serbia on Wednesday, with a 9-3 score. Eggens led the way with a game-high three goals. Bredin started in goal and recorded 10 saves.

”There's always room for improvement, but it was a good start for us and hopefully we'll get better every day,” Eggens said. “Training with Hungary was really good and prepared us well for these Games, and I think it will continue to help us throughout the tournament.”

The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years, and is second only to the Olympic Games in the number of participating athletes and countries. The Universiade is open to competitors between the ages of 17 and 28 in the year of the Games who are full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.

Emma Friesen, a UH diver is also representing Canada at the World University Games.