PORTERVILLE, Calif. --- There's no doubt that Samantha Rainey's time away from the pool had a good purpose. She's got a new appreciation for her passion for water polo and has entertaining reunions with high school teammates ahead when Head Coach Sarah Orozco's program starts competing in 2022. 

After a decorated tenure as a four-year varsity player at Porterville High School, Rainey stepped away from the sport in her transition to college and focused on a business degree at Cal State San Bernardino. She has really excelled over the past two years, making the dean's list twice and taking on leadership positions for four clubs, including a vice president position for the American Marketing Association chapter on campus. 

But Rainey's preparation for a career in sports marketing, along with some extended time at home due to COVID-19, made her long to be in the pool again. She resumed training with her club coach this past summer and started looking into Biola Women's Water Polo shortly thereafter. 

"I chose Biola because I saw it as an opportunity to not only play the sport that shaped me into the person I am today, but also attend a school that revolves around Christ," said Rainey. "I am really excited about Biola's new facilities and about the fact that this is Biola's first ever water polo program. I can't wait to see what the season holds and meet my new teammates!"
 
Rainey captained and played goalie for a Porterville Panther team that posted an unblemished East Yosemite League record and won a CIF Central Section Section Division II Championship in 2019. The Panthers qualified for four CIF tournaments, won three league championships and had back-to-back-to-back 20-win seasons with Rainey on the roster. As a result, the future Eagle collected 340 career blocks over the time frame and was a four-time All-EYL selection with two first team nods. 
 
As she turns her attention to joining Coach Orozco's team, Rainey is rebuilding her athletic base with CrossFit training and is relishing the opportunity to compete against some of Biola's familiar foes. She told her local newspaper that she's excited to face off against her twin sister Shyanne, a center at Azusa Pacific, and against Rosemary Chapman, a longtime teammate at Porterville who's now at Fresno Pacific.
 
In the meantime, Rainey will conclude her second year at Cal State San Bernardino and begin business administration classes at Biola. She still intends to pursue a career with a sports marketing firm after she graduates from college.
 
Samantha brings such intensity to her position as goalie and I couldn't be more excited to have her at Biola," said Coach Orozco. "It's a sweet gift to have her play for Biola as she will now live in a house divided with her twin sister Shyanne attending the rival school APU! The brick game will certainly be an awesome experience for the Rainey family!"
 
More information on the rest of the student-athletes that will join Samantha Rainey at Biola in 2021-22 can be found on the Committed Athletes page.