2013 Women's Water Polo Roster
Roster
Anni Espar
- Height:
- 6-0
- Class:
- Freshman
- High School:
- IES CAR
- Hometown:
- Barcelona, Spain
Anni Espar is bound for her fourth Olympic Games with her history-making Spanish national team. A two-time silver medalist (2020 & 2012), Espar is one of Spain's most prolific players and scorer. In 2012, Espar was the second leading scorer overall at the Games in London, where Spain made its Olympic debut and went on to win a silver medal. Immediately following that run, Espar came to USC as a true freshman, and helped guide the Women of Troy to the 2013 NCAA Championship. A first-team All-American that year, Espar was responsible for serving up the game-winning goal in the NCAA final, scoring from distance in a triple-sudden-death victory over Stanford. Espar would return to Spain after that season, engaging in a professional career that has seen her take CN Sabadell to two European Championships while continuing to anchor her Spanish national team. In 2016, Espar and the Spaniards took silver at the FINA Super Finals after having secured their 2016 Olympic bid with their performance at the FINA Olympic Qualification Tournament. Espar also was named European Women's Water Polo Player of the Year in 2012, and helped Spain win gold at the 2013 FINA World Championships and silver at the 2019 FINA World Championships en route to their qualification for these 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
2013: Anni Espar played one season at USC, serving up the game-winning goal in the third sudden-death period to secure USC's 2013 NCAA Championship... Scored 31 goals, including six at the NCAA Tournament and six at the MPSF Tournament... Named to All-America First Team, All-MPSF First Team, NCAA All-Tournament First Team and MPSF All-Tournament Team... Scored in 15 games with 12 multiple-goal outings, including a career-high four goals vs. Stanford in the UCI Invitational championship victory... Named MPSF Player of the Week on Feb. 25 after USC's championship run at the UCI Invitational.
NATIONAL TEAMS: Espar was the second leading scorer at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, where she won a silver medal as a member of Spain's Olympic Team... In 2016, Espar helped Spain to a fifth-place finish at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro... In 2013, won gold with Spain at the FINA World Championships and silver with the junior team at the FINA Junior World Championships... Named European Women's Water Polo Player of the Year in 2012... Also selected 2012 Diari Sport Breakout Athlete... In 2011 was a member of the Diari Sport Best Catalan Team of the Year... Also competed for the Spanish National Team at the 2011 European Cup, where Spain won gold... Also was a member of Spain's 2011 FINA Junior World Championship gold-medal team.
HIGH SCHOOL: Espar played club for C.E. Mediterrani and C.N. Sabadell... Won two national league championships, four Catalan Cup titles and three Spanish Cups... Was the top scorer at the Spanish Cup... An honor student.
PERSONAL: Espar had not declared a major at USC... Parents are Anna and Xesco... Has two siblings, Pol and Clara... Says playing in the 2012 Olympic Games was her most thrilling sports moment... Enjoys traveling, going to the beach, reading, shopping and watching sports in her free time... Lists Xavi Hernandez as her biggest sports hero... Favorite foods are Italian and Mediterranean... Born Jan. 8, 1993.
