BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Austin College goalie Valery Piachonkina (Sr., Castro Valley, Calif./Mission San Jose) made 28 saves with seven steals and five assists over the span of three games during a 2-2 weekend for the Division III No. 5-ranked Kangaroos at the 2022 Tina Finali Memorial Tournament hosted by California Lutheran University. For her efforts, she is named the February 28 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III Defensive Player of the Week.
On Friday, February 25, she anchored Austin in a 9-8 loss to Division III No. 3/host Ca Lutheran and made a one-goal lead hold up in a 10-9 dispatching of Fresno Pacific University. She did not appear versus No. 22 Long Island University in an 18-5 loss on Saturday, February 26.
Piachonikina concluded the weekend by topping Division III No. 7 Chapman University, 18-13, on February 26. The game marked the first Top Five victory by the ‘Roos as Chapman was ranked at No. 5 at the time of the game.
The award marks the sixth Defensive Player of the Week nod during her tenure at Austin following previous recognition in 2019 (March 4), 2020 (February 3, March 9) and 2021 (March 29, April 19).
February 28 Collegiate Water Polo Association Division III Player of the Week Honor Roll: Jordan Brough/Elizabeth Schexnaider (Wittenberg University)
