When she played for RB, she was a two-time CIF San Diego Section Player of the Year (2003 and 2005) and led the Broncos to their first-ever CIF section crown in 2003.

At UCLA, she and her teammates won four consecutive NCAA championships. By the time she graduated in 2009, she was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team twice and held a single-season scoring record for the Bruins.

Upon graduation, Gandy joined the national team, helping them win the World Championships in Rome and the World League in Kirishi, Russia, last summer.

Now, Gandy is back in San Diego for the FINA Women’s World League Super Final, which is being played through July 3 at the Coggan Family Aquatic Complex in La Jolla.

In Team USA’s first match, held Monday against Greece, Gandy scored once, contributing to the final 11-9 score.

Team USA had preliminary matches against Australia on Tuesday and Russia on Wednesday, with quarterfinals slated to start on Thursday (go to www.MyLocalNews.com for an update).

In an e-mail interview, Gandy spoke of her experience playing for Team USA, her connection to Rancho Bernardo and spoke about some of the keys that helped her get to where she is today.

What follows is an edited version of the exchange.

Q. What is it like to be a part of the FINA Women’s World League Super Final roster?

It’s an unbelievable privilege to be a part of this roster. There are so many talented, amazing girls on this team and even more talented, deserving girls that don’t get a chance to compete.

We work so hard together in practice and spend a lot of time together in and out of the water that it has really brought us closer as teammates and friends.

To play with a group of my friends in front of my hometown family and friends is a dream come true, and I will never take that for granted.

Q. What does it mean to you to represent the United States in an international competition of this caliber?

Especially after watching the USA (soccer team) fall to Ghana in the World Cup and witnessing how much our country enjoys supporting this wonderful place we call home, I can’t be more proud to be able to represent those three letters across my suit.

My boyfriend’s dad and grandfathers served our country and even though I’m just playing a sport, I’m honored to be a part of something that is much bigger than me and even this team.

Q. What do you anticipate the competition will be like?

Just by looking at the brackets I know that this will be a truly competitive tournament. Any one of these teams can be seen in a medal round and it will be the team that plays most consistent each day that will come out on top. The competition will be fierce, aggressive, and energetic from the first to the last game, don’t doubt that one bit.

Q. What are the team goals, and what would you say are the biggest challenges?

One of our team goals is to improve as the tournament goes on and eventually have our best game at the end. It is important for us to play in an attack mode every game and not get complacent at any point. We’ve had three full weeks of solid training, and while some might say that’s not enough time to become a team — since most countries have been playing together all year — we aren’t creating any excuses and are confident in each other to be capable of playing good water polo

Q. Do you think being from San Diego gives you an edge? What is it like to play here?

Yes and no. In one aspect you are playing with an extra amount of energy and motivation just by having a larger crowd cheering for you and knowing your family and friends are watching you play. But at the same time, you cannot let that distract you and you must focus on the process of the game and not on what is happening around you.

Q. How did you become interested in water polo?

Water polo came to me from a friend, Koree Blyleven, who swam and played softball with me in middle school. She asked me if I would like to come out to a club practice at her high school, Mt. Carmel High School, and the coach was an ex-Olympian and saw some potential in me. Once I realized I could combine both my sports into one I was hooked. I thought that would mean half the number of practices but boy was I wrong!

Q. Other than your notable success, what keeps you interested in the sport?

I keep playing because I honestly love the sport. Maybe not for the sweet tan lines and strong, muscular physique, per se, but I’m able to travel the world, see my friends every day, experience new cultures, stay in shape, meet new people, be out in the sun, and represent the USA. It’s not a bad gig if you ask me.

It’s hard work and a lot of commitment but the memories and rewards I have accumulated so far have been well worth it.

Q. What are your personal goals?

My personal goals in this sport are somewhat secretive and only because I’m weird about letting them all out, like there’s some kind of checklist, and that if I don’t reach them, I have failed or something.

The only way I can fail is if I don’t give this sport my full effort and commit myself to being the best I can be and putting this team before myself.

Q. Is there something you learned at RB High that has stayed with you during your career?

RB has taught me a lot about being a loyal person and a positive role model. Being involved in more than just yourself and reaching out gives you balance in life and truly helps your peace of mind and happiness. Being a part of ASB in school, athletics and student ventures made it easy for me to get involved in college as well, and I definitely think that what I started in high school made it much easier during my transition, to living on my own in a completely different country halfway around the world with a foreign language and no family.

Q. Which of your achievements are you the most proud of?

Winning four national titles will always be a great achievement as well as a world championship and playing abroad a full season, but I still will never forget winning our first water polo CIF title for RB at UC San Diego (in 2003).

I remember my dad saying how important to the team it would be for me to practice and play with them all summer when I didn’t want to because I already had my club practices, but that was just another lesson about loyalty. Winning that title with those girls meant the world to me, not because we won, but because of who I won it with and those relationships that we built.

Q. What have been the largest obstacles that you’ve had to overcome?

I think truly dedicating myself to this sport and enduring all of the long hours and tough practices has been the toughest challenge for me. I’m a very dynamic person and I love to do everything, but it gets hard when I can’t do something because of a water polo commitment or because it carries a chance of getting injured. Being away from my family over special moments or missing important events in my friends’ lives is something I have to live with while I’m on this road, and even knowing they support what I’m doing, it’s still always a little upsetting for me.

Q. What would be your advice for people considering picking up water polo? Any tips on what to avoid or what to do?

Swimming is important if you want to keep playing. Don’t settle for what your coaches tell you to do in practice. Go home and do more. Always be a learner of the game because once you’re done learning, you’re done. While you’re young, play as much as you can whenever you can. Avoid being afraid to fail or look bad, that’s when things can get ugly.

For more information on the tournament, including live webcast of games, go to www.USAWaterPolo.org. Tickets to the games can be purchased at the door.