# #

Water Polo Brings in Three on National Signing Day

by thesundevils.com
Nov 10, 2021

TEMPE-- This week, Sun Devil Water announced three signings from the class of 2022. The Sun Devils will add goalie Alexa Knutson, attacker Kelsey Matthies, and utility player Juliette Dhalluin to the squad next year.

Todd Clapper is excited about the additions to his team just a year after placing third in the NCAA Tournament, and notes, "We are thrilled to add Kelsey, Alexa, and Juliette to the program. They are talented athletes, hard workers, and all around great people. Both Kelsey and Alexa have made the National Team Selection Camps for the Youth National Team this past summer."

Kelsey Matthies (Aptos, CA. / Attacker)

Matthies was a four year varsity player for Soquel High School and named MVP of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League as a sophomore in 2019 after recording 111 goals that season. 

As a senior, Matthies notched 105 goals in 26 games, and tacked on 55 assists in that span. 

In 2018, Matthies competed in an Olympic Development Program Girls Futures International Competition in Budapest, Hungary. 

Throughout her high school career, Matthies has accounted for 409 points (285G- 124A), and has proven to work both sides of the ball with 210 steals in 90 games.

Todd Clapper is looking forward to have Kelsey in Tempe, "Not only is Kelsey one of the top players in NorCal, she is also extremely versatile and has experience at all positions in the field."
 

Alexa Knutson (Arlington Heights, IL. / Goalkeeper)

Knutson was a three year varsity starter for John Hersey High School, and was pulled up to play varsity for sectionals as a freshman which led to her starting varsity stint. 

As a junior, Knutson was 1st team all-conference, 1st team all-selectional, and 2nd team all-state in Illinois. During that junior season, she led the state in saves with 265. 

She played club water polo for East Side Water Polo in Evanston, Illinois under Head Coach Jimmy Heard. 

Knutson also played volleyball at John Hersey High School and was a two year varsity starter. She plans on studying dietetics at Arizona State in the Fall of 2022. 

With another goalie set to join the roster, Todd Clapper praised Kuntson's athleticism, "Alexa is the best goalkeeper in the Midwest and is also one of the best athletes in the class.  We are expecting great things from Alexa and looking forward to working with her."
 

Juliette Dhalluin (Mulhouse, France / Utility)

Dhalluin plays in the highest amateur league in France, Pro A, and was awarded the Most Promising Player in France award in 2020 after her team placed third in the Women Elite French National Championship in back to back seasons. Dhalluin is a member of the French national team and a rising star in Europe.

She is on the INSEP Club team, and has been a member of the Senior French National Team since the 2019-20 season. Dhalluin competed in the senior European Championship in Budapest, Hungary in January of 2020 and was the youngest player competing. She scored four goals in the championship. 

In 2017-18 and 2018-19, she was the U17 and U15 French runner up in the European championships, and was a top 10 scorer in the championships after recording 17 goals with the U15 team, and four with the U17 team. 

 

Related News & Videos