BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Valery Piachonkina (Sr., Castro Valley, Calif./Mission San Jose) of Division III No. 5-ranked Austin College made 13 saves with 16 goals allowed over two games at the inaugural/2022 USA Water Polo Division III Collegiate Championship hosted by Pomona-Pitzer Colleges. For her efforts, Piachonkina is named the May 9 CWPA Division III Defensive Player of the Week.
She opened the weekend by turning aside seven shots and allowing seven goals in 15:53 during an opening round loss to Division III No. 2 Whittier College on Saturday, May 7. On Sunday, May 8, she stopped six shots and allowed nine goals in a 12-9 defeat of Division III No. 9 Augustana College to help the Kangaroos claim Third Place at the national championship event.
The award marks the ninth 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, March 14, April 25).
