LOUDONVILLE, NY – Looking to build momentum into his third year at the helm of the program, Siena Water Polo head coach Alex Williams announced five initial signings as part of the Class of 2026. The Saints will add Bianca Kennerley, Catherine Morin, Skye Murray, Parker Thomas, and Samantha Varrie to their roster beginning next season. The Saints also added Canadian recruit Audrey Lacey to their incoming signing class.
"Our first five members of the Siena Water Polo class of 2026 possess talent, hunger, and willingness to create a legacy," Williams said. "This class will bolster our speed, size, and depth moving forward. Everyone is on the same page. We all want to win together, and we are all committed to making the process matter."
Bianca Kennerley | Utility | Johannesburg, South Africa | St. Stithians College
Hailing from the same secondary school as current Siena senior Bianca Prinsloo and future teammate Samantha Varrie, Kennerley has spent the last four years on the St. Stithians College First Team, helping them to attain national success within South Africa. She was selected to the South African U-16, U-17, and U-18 National squads, as well as the U-14 through U-18 teams within the Central Gauteng Provence. Kennerley also spent two years with the Water Warriors Senior Ladies Team participating in the Currie Cup.
Audrey Lacey | Utility | Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | Martin Collegiate High School
The first Canadian recruit in the 21-year history of the program, Lacey was selected as a member of the U14, U16, and U19 Provincial teams for Team Saskatchewan, most recently helping the U19 team place third at the 2019 U19 National Championships. Her team won the 2020 Cross-Over Championship to qualify for the Canadian U19 Championships prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, white her U14 squad placed second at the Sailor Cup Tournament in 2018, with Lacey winning the MVP award for her efforts.
Catherine Morin | Attacker | Orlando, Florida | Lake Nona High School
Morin comes to the Capital Region after being selected to the USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program Team in both 2020 and 2021. A member of the Florida All-Metro Team in 2021, she helped her team capture a State Championship that year. The 2019 Lake Nona High School Rookie of the Year, Morin also excelled in the classroom, and was the recipient of the AP Scholar Award in 2021.
Skye Murray | Attacker | Cape Town, South Africa | Herschel Girls' School
The second of three incoming Saints to hail from South Africa, Murray was a member of the South African U-17, U-19 A and U-20 National squads, helping the U-20 team to capture the 2021 Fina World Championship. She was also a member of the Warriors Ladies First Team that won a silver medal at the 2021 Currie Cup, and earned honors as a First Team player while at Herschel Girls' School. Murray also served as the Assistant Head of her secondary school team.
Parker Thomas | Attacker | Mount Maunganui, New Zealand | Rockwall High School (TX)
Originally from New Zealand and joining Siena as the first player in program history to hail from the country, Thomas spent her final three years of high school in Rockwall, Texas. A member of the 15-U New Zealand National Team in 2019, she helped her club team to a second place finish at New Zealand Nationals in 2018. Thomas was selected to the 2021 USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program Team, and aided the team in taking home a second place finish.
Samantha Varrie | Utility | Johannesburg, South Africa | St. Stithians College
Coming to Loudonville from St. Stithians College alongside Kennerley, Varrie was also a member of the program's First Team, and also won a gold medal with the U-16 A team within the Central Gauteng Province. A member of both the South African U-16 and U-17 National Teams, she was a member of the Crusaders Water Warriors Ladies Team that won the Silver Medal at the 2021 Currie Cup Tournament.
Siena prepares to take the pool for a full slate of action in 2022, and will look to continue success from last season which included the program's first-ever win over a ranked opponent.
