BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Former Notre Dame College women’s water polo athlete and current Penn State Behrend head men’s and women’s water polo coach Gina-Bella Mata’afa is profiled in the latest edition of USA Water Polo’s magazine, Skipshot.
To read the story, CLICK HERE.
A graduate of Lahainaluna High School and a native of Maui, Hawaii, Mata’afa was appointed the inaugural full-time assistant water polo coach at Penn State Behrend in 2021 and was elevated to interim head women’s coach at the conclusion of the 2023 season. She became the institution’s head coach in September 2023.
Prior to her arrival in Erie, Mata’afa spent four years in Italy, including three as a professional athlete and one as an assistant coach for the U-18 team. In 2017, she led the Rari Nantes Imperia to win the League Championship as their top goal scorer and starting center. Mata’afa also spent two years with the Rari Nantes Bologna team. She helped them to three championships playoffs and was in the Top 10 in the league for scoring.
Mata’afa played four years at Notre Dame College in Ohio and graduated with a degree in public relation and communications in May 2015. While at Notre Dame, she was a two-time captain and Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) All-Conference selection. In 2015, Mata’fa earned her third Offensive Player of the Year Award and the team’s Most Valuable Player.
After graduation she spent a year at Durham University in England while getting a master’s degree in international management. It was after that final season that she was contacted by a sports agency called Palombella, which recruits players for professional teams in Italy.
