BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Goalie Valery Piachonkina (Sr., Castro Valley, Calif./Mission San Jose) of Division III No. 5-ranked Austin College made 39 saves over the span of three games at the Aztec Invitational hosted by San Diego State University. For her efforts, she is named the March 14 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III Defensive Player of the Week.
The award marks the seventh Defensive Player of the Week nod during her tenure at Austin following previous recognition in 2019 (March 4), 2020 (February 3, March 9), 2021 (March 29, April 19) and 2022 (February 28).
She opened the weekend on Saturday, March 12, by posting 11 saves in a 13-7 loss to Saint Francis University and did not compete in the Kangaroos’ 13-7 loss to No. 14 Wagner College later in the day.
On Sunday, March 13, she turned aside 15 shots in an 11-4 loss to No. 20 San Diego State University prior to recording 13 stops in a 9-8 loss to Bucknell University.
March 14 Collegiate Water Polo Association Division III Player of the Week Honor Roll: Chloe Dodgen (Penn State Behrend)
