LEWISBURG, Pa. — Bucknell University women’s water polo head coach John McBride announced the addition of six student-athletes that will join the squad for the upcoming 2021 season.
The six newcomers will join a Bison program that appeared in the national rankings in the 2020 season. The Bison started the season 12-1, the best start in program history, and were 15-4 overall in the shortened spring season.
The Bison defeated two ranked opponents in 2020, and have now won 40 games in the past two seasons despite only competing in 19 games this past spring, the most over a two-year stretch for the program since 2008-2009.
Bucknell finished the season ranked 23rd in the country, and will return two Honorable Mention All-America selections in rising seniors Ally Furano and Kali Hyham. Bucknell loses seniors Nina Benson, Katie Jo Nedrow, Hayley Pogue and Gigi Rojahn to graduation. The group combined for 70 wins in four years with the Bison.
The incoming class hails from two different countries (USA, Canada), and four different states (Connecticut, New Jersey, Texas, and Oregon).
Bettina Tapiero (Greenwich, Conn./The Lawrenceville School (N.J.)
Before Bucknell: Lettered four years in water polo, three in swimming and one in crew at the Lawrenceville School…co-captain of the water polo team along with fellow Bucknell incoming freshman Isabelle Monaghan…All-Eastern Second Team selection…team won third flight at the Beast of the East, finishing 7-2 overall…team placed second at the Eastern Championship.
Personal: Bettina Giselle Tapiero…born on 4/27/2002 in Greenwich, Conn…has two siblings, Scarlett and Oscar…father Dan Tapiero played water polo at Brown University.
Isabelle Monaghan (Lawrenceville, N.J./The Lawrencevile School)
Before Bucknell: Lettered four times in water polo, two times in swimming, two times in crew, and once in indoor track and field at the Lawrenceville School…team was named Best of the East Flight III Champions in 2018…played club for the Princeton Tigers Aquatics Club since 2009…also spent time as a member of Capital Water Polo Club and Greenwich Water Polo club…competed in Santa Clara, Calif. in 2017 at the Junior Olympics and US Opens, and also competed at the US Opens in 2019.
Personal: Isabella Dallas Monaghan…Has two siblings, Sophia and Paul…mother Ann swam at the University of Virginia…father Alec was a member of the squash team at Trinity College…sister Sophia was a member of the women’s water polo team at Stanford University…brother Paul played squash at Fordham University.
Olivia Dey (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada/Newtonbrook Secondary School)
Before Bucknell: Member of Mavericks Water Polo Club and Capital Wave Water Polo Club…helped Mavericks to 2016 third-place showing at Haba Waba, and third-place showing at Eastern National Championships in 2019…at Capital Wave, helped team to second-place showing at Eastern Nationals, and second place at nationals…member of team Ontario in 2018 that traveled to Barcelona
Kirstin Hayduchok (Houston, Texas/Cypress Creek)
Before Bucknell: Lettered in both swimming and water polo at Cypress Creek…named team captain of the water polo team for 2020, and was selected both the All-State and All-Region teams in 2019…three-time member of the USA Water Polo Outstanding All-Academic squad from 2017-20…NISCA Water Polo and Swimming Academic All-American for 2019-20…helped team to third-place showing at regionals in 2019, and seventh place showing at states…played club for CFWPC from 2016-20…helped team to second-place finish at 16u bronze division at the Junior Olympics in 2018…member of USA Water Polo ODP Team Southwest Zone Team in 2019.
Personal: Kirstin Karen Hayduchok…Has two siblings, Lilia and Annika…father Leon Hayduchok played soccer at Bucknell from 1990-1993…mother Anne-Marie Hayduchok (Nielsen) played both water polo and swam at Bucknell from 1991-1994.
Lauren McDougal (Sacramento, Calif./Rio Americano)
Before Bucknell: Lettered in water polo for four years at Rio Americano under Head Coach Racehl Ruano…two-time All-League selection…helped team to two sectional championships…played club for American River Waterpolo Club.
Personal: Lauren Kimbrough McDougal…born on 5/19/2002 in Sacramento, Calif…has four siblings, Maigrie, Duncan, Malcolm, and Liam…Maigrie was a member of the women’s water polo team at Brown, where she was an Academic All-Ivy League selection.
Emma Molaski (Eugene, Ore./South Eugene)
Before Bucknell: Lettered four years in water polo and three in swimming at South Eugene…two-time team captain, and four-time All-State selection…earned the Nick Johnson Award at ODP All Stars…Also a member of the All-League Team twice…Played club for Puget Sound Water Polo, which placed 23rd at the 2019 Junior Olympics…member of ODP Pacific Northwest Team in 2018, and helped team to first-place showing at ODP All Stars Championship in 2019.
Personal: Emma LouAnn Molaski…born on 12/03/2001 in Springfield, Ore…has one sibling, Isaiah.
Release courtesy Bucknell University Athletics Communications
