TALENT POOL

Many of the replacements are inexperienced.

But they’re all good, or expected to be.

The same can be said of the top girls’ water polo teams in the Southland after the graduation of many of the best players from last year’s heralded senior class.

“Last year’s senior class was probably the best ever for Southern California girls’ water polo,” said Coach Aaron Chaney of Southern Section Division II champion Corona del Mar.

“Everyone has players now who have to step up and take on new roles. But I don’t think the balance of power has really changed.”

Santa Ana Foothill, which finished 30-0 and won its fourth Division I title last season, begins this one as the favorite despite the loss of its three best players, leading scorers Brittany Hayes and Gabbie Domanic and goalkeeper Emily Feher.

Hayes signed with USC, while Feher and Domanic, who scored five goals in the United States’ 13-8 victory over Italy in the Holiday Cup championship game Dec. 7, signed with UCLA.

To fill the void, the Knights have expedited the development of several new players while relying more heavily on senior Jillian Kraus, a reserve on the Holiday Cup team.

“You can’t hope to replicate that team, and I hope not to replicate it,” Foothill Coach Dave Mikesell said. “We’ve got a lot of utility players, and that’s basically what this team is going to be. If you’re going to single people out, it’s going to be hard to do on this team. We’ll try to do it that way and see how it goes.”

So far, so good.

Katy Krumpholz played sparingly last year, but has done well since taking over in goal for the Knights (3-0). Sophomore Grace Reynolds has become a focal point of the offense, along with Kraus.

Kraus had 59 goals, 70 steals and 26 assists last season, and Reynolds had 51 goals, 42 steals and 30 assists.

Other teams also are passing torches to new and prospective standouts.

Newport Harbor graduated several starters, including Jenna Murphy. Corona del Mar lost four starters, including Division II player of the year Christina Hewko; and Division I runner-up Santa Margarita must replace five starters, including top scorers Erika Figge and Kristina Kunkel.

Despite the personnel losses, all three schools are ranked in The Times’ top 10, along with Division IV champion Santa Barbara, which graduated five starters and is seeking to replace Molly Cahill.

“Her shoes were more difficult to fill,” Santa Barbara Coach Mark Walsh said. “You have to start giving new kids playing time in the spring, summer and fall, so that by the time you get to the season, it’s been almost a full year and they’ve had a long time to become their own group.”

Even if team chemistry is established, positions and individual roles may take longer to sort out.

“We still need to create who’s going to be our leader,” Santa Margarita Coach Kevin Ricks said. “We’re still working on who’s going to be our go-to girl, and who it’s going to be that’s going to get themselves open when we need it.”

Not that there aren’t options.

Instead of looking to Figge and Kunkel, Santa Margarita will rely on sophomores Darby Anderson and Brooke Figge, Erika’s sister.

Without Cahill, Santa Barbara turns to Kami Craig, a junior transfer from Santa Ynez who is on the 20-and-under U.S. national junior team, and will look to its only returning starters, Miranda Nichols and Brittany May, for leadership.

Some schools, such as Foothill, try not to rely on one player.

Others, such as Division III runner-up La Verne Bonita and Division VI runner-up Mira Loma Jurupa Valley, will rely heavily on junior Julia Fancher and senior Laura Uribe, respectively.

Surprises have benefited some teams. Newport Harbor’s Melissa Wheeler and Ashling Taylor, Santa Barbara’s Sarah Frost, Montebello freshman Priscilla Orosco, Riverside Poly sophomore Stephanie Bocian and Harvard-Westlake’s Devon Mac- Laughlin, Meredith Butte and Tracey Crothers have helped their teams remain successful.