Almost, but not quite, is the best way to sum up the performances of Tuks’ women’s water polo team during the USSA Tournament.
Last year, the team was eliminated in the semi-finals. In the previous four years, Tuks reached the finals but had to settle for silver.
All of this means absolutely nothing to 19-year-old law student Tori Voke. Next week at Tuks, it will be the first time she participates in the USSA Tournament. However, please don’t make the mistake of thinking she is a rookie. She is a seasoned international player. In August this year, she represented South Africa’s U20 team at the World Championship in Brazil. It was not her first international outing.
When asked what she considers her best trait, she answered that it’s her speed. This should not be a surprise. Voke is also a passionate swimmer. Most mornings and afternoons, you will find her in the Tuks swimming pool, swimming length after length. The 50-meter freestyle is her speciality. The one in which she hopes to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
According to her, the training she does in the pool gives her an edge when playing water polo. It makes it easy to counter her opponents during a game. Voke is a utility player. To use her words, she can play anywhere except the goal. She tends to get quite physical when playing.
“I don’t think I am a very nice person to mark in the pool.”
Water polo is considered a violent and aggressive sport, often cited as one of the most physically demanding aquatic sports, with a high rate of injury compared to other water sports. Does it mean she is one of the meanies of the game? Voke’s first reaction is to laugh when asked this.
“Blood in the water is quite common during a water polo game, but it does not mean it is due to intentional foul play when you get a foot or an elbow to the face. I don’t mean to be mean; I am just a lot more experienced because I’ve played internationally. It changes your game.”
What is the worst that has happened to you in the pool?
“I have been scratched, bitten and bruised. I have even sprained some fingers. It usually happens when you mark an opponent, and your fingers get stuck in the swimming costume. You can even break a finger that way. Up to now, I have been lucky.”
What are the lessons you learned playing internationally?
“Anything can happen in the pool, even if you have a strong team, so you’ve got to be happy with the small wins. It is not always only about the overall result. It is the small positives that keep you going.”
Voke’s love for water polo was sparked when she started throwing the ball around in their swimming pool with her older brother and a friend. Soon after, she began playing seriously. The physical contact that comes with playing water polo is what attracted her to the game.
