Cal Lutheran water polo’s Jordan Card, Adrienne Ingalla earn All-American honors

From the Pacific League to All-Area to All-CIF honors, high school accolades stemming from their exploits in the world of water polo have come in abundance for Jordan Card and Adrienne Ingalla.

But both Cal Lutheran water polo players were quick to admit their surprise, if not shock, when they were recently bestowed NCAA All-American recognition.

Card, a Burbank High graduate, and Ingalla, a Crescenta Valley product, were named to the 2013 Assn. of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches NCAA Division III All-American team. Card, a sophomore center, was a second-team selection, while Ingalla, a sophomore defender, was an honorable mention as part of a quintet of Regals to receive All-American status.

“It was really surprising,” Ingalla said. “I was shocked and surprised when I found out I was an All-American.”

Card was equally stunned, perhaps more so considering she wasn’t even recognized with an All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honor, as Ingalla was.

“Honestly, I was dumbstruck,” Card said. “I was so upset with the All-SCIAC. Then I got All-American, so I was like, ‘I guess I didn’t get jipped after all.’”

Card and Ingalla were joined by teammates Jane Galluzzi, Morgan McCardell and Kylee Tomasetti, who were honorable mention picks.

Cal Lutheran finished 13-15 on the season and went 7-4 in the SCIAC, which was won by Pomona Pitzer.

“I think it’s a testament to how hard our team worked and how well we did even if we didn’t win SCIAC,” said Ingalla of a Cal Lutheran squad that had just four seniors on its 19-woman roster. “I think for as young a team as we were, we were very strong.”

Card actually came off the bench in favor of a senior starter, as the former Pacific League Player of the Year, All-CIF and All-Area selection got just four starts on the season. She did plenty with them, however.

“She had a breakout year,” Ingalla said of Card, who scored a Burbank school-record 132 goals in her 2011 senior season.

As a sophomore for Cal Lutheran, Card led the Regals with 45 goals and added 12 assists and drew a team-best 54 exclusions. During a span that ran from March 8 through April 13, Card scored in 12 straight matches for the Regals, including a career-high six-goal performance March 9 against Cal State San Bernardino.

While Card led the team offensively, Ingalla very much led Cal Lutheran defensively.

“Adrienne has definitely stepped up,” Card said. “She rose to the occasion.”

Settling in as a full-time starter, Ingalla led the Regals with 69 steals.

“I was happy with how I got to step up into my role, which was as a defensive director in the pool,” said Ingalla, who was an All-SCIAC honorable mention, while McCardell was a first-teamer and Galluzzi was a second-teamer. “Stepping up as a defensive player was really important for me.”

However, just as she did in her days at Crescenta Valley, in which she racked up league, area and CIF-SS accolades, Ingalla showed her versatility. She also finished with 36 goals, which was second-best on the team, and had 10 multi-goal games and a career-high five scores against conference champ Pomona-Pitzer in March.

Looking forward to next season, as reigning All-Americans, Card and Ingalla will likely be called upon to lead the Regals.

“Individually, I always have my goals in relation to the team,” Ingalla said, “so, for me, whatever I can do to help us win SCIAC is what I’m going to do.”

Though the Regals lose three All-Americans, they’re still slated to have 15 returners and plenty of potential, according to the former Bulldog.

“I think we’ll be able to fill in those holes,” Card said. “I think this team might be stronger.”

As of now, both Card and Ingalla recently finished up helping out with a water polo clinic at Cal Lutheran, while letting it set in that they are now All-Americans — an honor that will no doubt last a lifetime.

“I really don’t like talking about it. I’m trying to be as humble about it as I can,” Card said. “I think down the line when I’m done with the sport it’s something I’ll really look back on and be proud to tell my kids about. And my grandkids, when they’re playing water polo.”