Feb. 23, 2009

BERKELEY - The California women's water polo team put forth an excellent showing at the highly competitive UC Irvine Invitational on Feb. 21 and 22, taking seventh place. Helping the Bears to victory was senior two-meter defender Paige Lorenz, who had six goals over the weekend. As of Feb. 23, she has scored 23 goals, which exceeds her previous season high of 21 goals, which she set last weekend. Lorenz hails from Old Greenwich, Conn., making her the only American on the team that is not originally from California. CalBears.com recently caught up with the 5-11 co-captain to find out about life in California for Lorenz.

CalBears.com: As an East Coast native, what made you choose Cal?
PL: "In high school, I knew I wanted to come to California to play college polo; at that time there wasn't as much opportunity to play on the East Coast. After my first trip to Berkeley I knew this was the place for me. I fell in love with the school, the team, the city and pretty much the whole Bay Area."

CalBears.com: What was the transition from Connecticut to California like for you?
PL: "The transition was pretty easy for me. Luckily when I first got here, we started practices, and I got to know my teammates pretty well. They made me feel so at home here that I never had a problem being so far from home."

CalBears.com: Which do you prefer - the East Coast or West Coast?
PL: "Well I love my family, and they are all on the East Coast, so any chance I get to go back and see them is great. But I would have to say the West Coast is my home now."

CalBears.com: Where is the hardest place to play in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation?
PL: "I would have to say ASU because I hate that kind of heat, and also the sandstorms."

CalBears.com: Fill in the blank - I always..."
PL: "I always...look good."

CalBears.com: Fill in the blank - I never..."
PL: "I never...miss an episode of `Lost.'"

CalBears.com: Whose diary, from any point in history, would you like to read?
PL: "My younger sister Brooke's. I once read an old one of hers, and I think I was crying I was laughing so hard. If I could get my hands on more of those, it would be great."

CalBears.com: In the last women's water polo Q&A, Remy Champion wanted the next women's water polo student-athlete to answer: Would you rather eat a glass full of live wasps or eat glass?
PL: "I'm going to go with eating the live wasps, in honor of Remy Champion."

CalBears.com: What question would you want the next women's water polo student-athlete to answer?
PL: "Beyonce or Sasha Fierce?"

For a complete listing of past Q&As with the California women's water polo team, click here or look on the sidebar on the main women's water polo page.