Fresno Pacific and Biola meet in the West, Salem travels to Michigan Invite
Around the @TheWWPA…
Biola (4-14, 1-0 WWPA)
Last week: 1-0; W at Cal State Monterey Bay, 13-11.
The Eagles shutout the Otters in the fourth quarter en route to a 13-11 victory to open WWPA play … Ava LoBue and Veralie Naranjo contributed three goals and two assists … Gwendolyn Pidd broke the stalemate at the 7:03 mark and Alyah Ibarra added insurance with 14 seconds remaining … Chloe McKay's six saves limited CSUMB to just two goals in the second half … Naranjo ranks third in total points (64) and fourth in goals (58) in the conference ranks.
Up next: Travels to Fresno Pacific for WWPA play on Mar. 21 … Visits UC Merced Mar. 22.
Cal State Monterey Bay (5-16, 1-1 WWPA)
Last week: 0-2; L vs Biola, 13-11; L vs #14 UC Davis, 20-8.
Saturday's contest featured seven ties and five lead changes … Autumn Day notched four goals and an assist … Day finished the weekend with six goals and three assists … Emma Sosa contributed five … Stella Martin recorded two goals and two assists … Day ranks second in the WWPA with 72 total points … Natalie Mancinelli's 20 sprint wins and .769 sprint win percentage lead the WWPA.
Up next: Takes the weekend off before hosting UC Merced on Mar. 28.
Fresno Pacific (10-6, 0-1 WWPA)
Last week: 2-0; W vs UC Merced, 16-9; W vs Occidental, 16-8.
Winners in four of five after consecutive victories at home over the Bobcats and Tigers … Regan Azevedo led the team with eight total points with four goals, four assists and three steals … Maggie Cook and Tatum Benson tallied six goals apiece … Alli Hepner dished out a team-high eight assists … Benson ranks second in the WWPA in goals (60) and steals (22).
Up next: Hosts UC Merced and Occidental in non-conference play on Saturday, Mar. 15.
Gannon (6-10, 1-1 WWPA)
Last week: 1-1; W vs Salem, 11-10; L at McKendree, 11-7.
Increased its winning streak to six games with a one-goal thriller over Salem, but had it snapped in the evening against McKendree … GU trailed SU with under four minutes remaining, but goals from Ellie Velasco and Emma O'Gorman provided the difference … Jade Strickland paced the attack with six goals, two assists and three steals … Molly Fehr's 38 goals are sixth-best in the WWPA.
Up next: Hosts Apr. 5-6's WWPA Erie Classic.
McKendree (17-6, 2-0 WWPA)
Last week: 2-0; W vs Salem, 9-7; W vs Gannon, 11-7.
Took early control of the East Region … Shanelle Marquez scored twice and Joey Rebelo added one as part of a 3-0 third-quarter spurt that put the Bearcats over the Tigers … Rebelo led the Clash with 10 total points on five goals and five assists … Sydney Kane posted a .667 save percentage … Hailey Munoz and Bella Morquecho registered four goals in the tourney … Rebelo leads the WWPA in points (92) and steals (27) … Morquecho is the leading scorer (61) …. Dylan Murphy leads in assists (35) … Kane leads in saves (265), save percentage (.590) and goals against average (8.46).
Up next: Hosts Senior Day against Carthage College on Mar. 22.
Salem (5-13, 0-2 WWPA)
Last week: 0-2; L at McKendree, 9-7; L vs Gannon, 11-10.
The Tigers rallied in the fourth quarter but could not pull themselves back from a hole against McKendree … Emily Rosa scored four and SU led in the fourth quarter, but GU was able to score the game's final two goals … Rosa led the team with six goals and five drawn exclusions on the day … Kristen Hemmila notched two goals … Lucy Bramwell's 52 points are sixth-best in the WWPA.
Up next: Heads to the Michigan Invite to take on #21 Marist, Pomona-Pitzer, Bucknell and #15 Michigan.
WWPA Offensive Player of the Week
The WWPA's points leader propelled McKendree to back-to-back wins at the WWPA Bearcat Clash. Joey Rebelo led the competition with 10 points on a tournament-high five assists and five goals. She currently ranks third in goals (58), second in assists (34) and tops the WWPA list in points (92), steals (27) and points per game (4.0).
Nominees: Autumn Day, Cal State Monterey Bay; Joey Rebelo, McKendree; Jade Strickland, Gannon; Veralie Naranjo, Biola; Regan Azevedo, Fresno Pacific
January 13-19, 2025: Ximena Pichon, Cal State Monterey Bay
January 20-26, 2025: Tatum Benson, Fresno Pacific
January 27-February 2, 2025: Joey Rebelo, McKendree
February 3-9, 2025: Bella Morquecho, McKendree
February 10-16, 2025: Maggie Cook, Fresno Pacific
February 17-23, 2025: Veralie Naranjo, Biola
February 24 - March 2, 2025: Tatum Benson, Fresno Pacific
March 3-9, 2025: Myah Ibarra, Biola
March 10-16, 2025: Joey Rebelo, McKendree
WWPA Defensive Player of the Week
Biola senior Ava LoBue was a jack-of-all-trades in the Eagles' conference win at Cal State Monterey Bay. She registered a team-high with four steals and led a BU defensive effort that limited the Otters to just two goals in the second half and a shutout in the fourth quarter. She tied for the team lead with five points on three goals and two assists while adding a sprint win to her name. LoBue is ranked in the WWPA top 10 in steals, assists, sprint wins and sprint win percentage.
Nominees: Shea Tully, Cal State Monterey Bay; Sydney Kane, McKendree; Ava LoBue, Biola; Tatum Benson, Fresno Pacific
January 13-19, 2025: Lizzy Birch, Biola
January 20-26, 2025: Sydney Kane, McKendree
January 27-February 2, 2025: Emily Low, Salem
February 3-9, 2025: Sydney Kane, McKendree
February 10-16, 2025: Marissa White, Cal State Monterey Bay
February 17-23, 2025: Molly Sebunia, Gannon
February 24 - March 2, 2025: Sydney Kane, McKendree
March 3-9, 2025: Allyson Ainsworth, Cal State Monterey Bay
March 10-16, 2025: Ava LoBue, Biola
Remembering Coach Lischwe
The WWPA joins the wider water polo community in mourning the tragic passing of McKendree head coach Colleen Lischwe. An instrumental part of the reorganization of our conference to fully include an all-NCAA Division II membership, we will greatly miss her passion, competitiveness and servant leadership for her student-athletes. To honor Colleen's memory, donations may be made to the Stray Rescue of St. Louis, one of her most cherished charities. In addition, a GoFundMe has been set up to support her husband, Casey, and three-year-old daughter, who were the center of her life. Please keep them and the entire Lischwe family in your thoughts during this difficult period. The WWPA appreciates your generosity.
2025 WWPA Preseason Poll
1. Biola 24 (4)
2. Salem 16 (1)
3. Cal State Monterey Bay 15 (1)
4. McKendree 14
5. Fresno Pacific 12
6. Gannon 9