CLAREMONT, Calif. -- The Grove City College women's water polo team opened its Spring Break trip to California by splitting a pair of matches Friday at the Claremont Convergence. Grove City earned a 21-9 win over CalTech in Friday's lidlifter. The Wolverines then dropped a 16-9 decision to California powerhouse La Verne in the second match of the day.

Grove City charged out to an 11-1 halftime lead against CalTech in earning its first win of 2019. Six Grove City players scored in the win, led by a six-goal effort from sophomore Tessa Leatherwood (Hurst, Texas/Colleyville Covenant). Junior Elizabeth Andrews (Newberg, Ore./Newberg) scored five times while freshman Elaine Miller (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) pumped in four goals.

Senior Abby Spicher (Erie, Pa./McDowell) scored three goals and freshman Sophia Melanson (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) scored twice. Senior Heidi Schmidt (Pittsburgh, Pa./Trinity Christian) added a goal and also recorded a team-leading five assists. Leatherwood also had four assists while Miller assisted three goals. Spicher and freshman Kyra Johnson (Hamilton, Va.) both tallied two assists. Melanson and junior Haley Jennings (Somers, Conn./East Catholic) also had assists in the victory.

Leatherwood paced the defense with five steals while Andrews, Johnson and Spicher all had two steals. In goal, sophomore Alexa Dunn (Girard, Pa./Girard) earned her first victory by stopping four shots. She also assisted a goal.

Andrews, Leatherwood, Melanson and Spicher all scored twice in Friday's finale against La Verne. Miller also scored for Grove City, which trailed 6-2 after the first quarter. 

Schmidt assisted three goals. Andrews, Leatherwood, Melanson and Spicher also had assists. Dunn led the defense with five takeaways while Leatherwood had four steals. Dunn stopped two shots.

Grove City returns to action Saturday with a pair of matches at Claremont. The Wolverines will face Chapman at 1:15 p.m. Eastern and then play Occidental at 5 p.m.