Playing a team from another state sounded like a good idea for the Nitros, who lost several star players to graduation and will look to infuse younger talent with several of the key returning players next December.
"It's fun to play a team that you'll never see again," said Glendale Coach Bob Zirovich, who is the reigning All-Area Girls' Water Polo Coach of the Year. "It's one of the better teams from Pennsylvania.
"It's just about us getting more experience. It's a chance for us to develop more and see the rising underclassmen get some playing experience."
The Eagles scored seven consecutive goals to take an 11-2 lead with 4:35 left in the third quarter. They also held the Nitros scoreless in the second quarter.
Cumberland Valley, which arrived in California late last week to attend a clinic at Pepperdine University, didn't allow Glendale much time to set up scoring chances and recorded a slew of steals that led to several goals in transition.
Glendale senior driver Casey Sripramong, who earned All-CIF second-team honors last season, said it will take time for the new players to get on par with the veterans.
"Just because we lost a lot of good players doesn't mean that we won't come back," said Sripramong, who scored a man-advantage goal with 1:44 remaining in the third quarter to cut Cumberland Valley's lead to 12-4. "We'd like to get back to where we were last season.
"When you have teams from different states coming here to play, you expect to play the best teams."
Bianca Zolimkhanian scored two goals for the Nitros, who got one from Sally Lu.
In an earlier tournament match, Glendale opened with a 9-6 win against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
Abolian finished with a match-high five goals. Sripramong, Zolimkhanian, Lu and Elena Mirzaians each scored one goal for Glendale.
