BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Penn State Behrend men’s and women’s water polo head coach Joe Tristan announced the appointment of Gina-Bella Mata’afa as the inaugural full-time assistant coach in program history.
A graduate of Lahainaluna High School and a native of Maui, Hawaii, 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 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.
Information courtesy Penn State Behrend Athletics Communications
