BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Penn State Behrend head men’s and women’s water polo coach Gina Bella Mata’afa discusses “Defensive Strategy/Recognizing Team Strength and Weaknesses” in the eighth “Coaches Corner” webinar presented by the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA).
The presentation has a purpose to help club teams have the resources & confidence to run productive practices and manage their programs throughout their season.
All presentations are open for collegiate club, varsity, fans, officials and the general public to view at no cost.
In her first season as head coach of the Penn State Behrend men’s program, Mata’afa was named the 2023 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) East Coach of the Year, becoming the first-ever head coach in program history to receive this honor. She led the Lions to seven regular-season wins, tying the program record that was achieved just two other times since 2000. Behrend also picked up two conference victories this season, which is a program first. Mata’afa is also the first head coach in program history to land six student-athletes on the All-MPSF Team.
Prior to Behrend, Mata’afa spent the last 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 communication in May 2015. While at Notre Dame, she was a two-time captain and 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 England’s Durham University 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.
