Collegiate Water Polo Association Releases 2021 Division III All-Conference Team; Oliver Named Most Valuable Player

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Austin College’s Sophie Oliver (So., Houston, Texas/Langham Creek) and Mark Lawrence conclude the 2021 season with Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year recognition as the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) releases the 2021 Division III All-Conference Team.

Based on nominations and votes of the institution’s which competed until the conclusion of the CWPA Division III regular season (Austin College, Carthage College, Grove City College, Penn State Behrend, Wittenberg University), the team honors 12 field players and two goalies.

2021 CWPA Division III Champion Austin places five athletes on the team as Oliver is joined by Lexi Wong (Jr., Lantana, Texas/Guyer), Madison Taylor (Jr., Copper Canyon, Texas/Marcus) and goalie Valery Piachonkina (Jr., Castro Valley, Calif./Mission San Jose) on the First Team.  Brooke Le (Jr., Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound) picks up Second Team recognition.

The award marks the second All-Conference honors for Wong (2019 Rookie of the Year; 2019 CWPA Division III Western Region Rookie of the Year; 2019 Division III West Region First Team), Le ( 2019 Division III West Region First Team) and Piachonika ( 2019 Division III West Region Second Team).

Oliver and Lawrence’s selections as Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year, respectively, mark the first individual nods on an All-Conference team for the institution.  Previously, Becca Dabrowski (Monmouth College, 2019), Lucille Moran (Macalester College, 2018, 2017), Kelsey Millward (Connecticut College, 2016), Nicolle Jasbon (Connecticut, 2015, 2014, 2013), Chelsea Johnson (Grove City, 2012), Kimberly Genian (Carthage, 2011) and Amanda Thompson (Grove City, 2010) earned MVP status.  Alyssa Hunt (Grove City, 2019), Scott Reed (Macalester, 2017), Joe Tristan (Penn State Behrend, 2016), Matt Anderson (Connecticut, 2015), Andy Bax (Carthage, 2014), JJ Addison (Connecticut, 2013), Jon Miller (Grove City, 2012, 2010) and Sarah Zink (Carthage, 2011) account for the nine previous Coach of the Year recipients.

Wittenberg, which finished as the league runner-up to the Kangaroos, claims three All-Conference selections as 2021 CWPA Division III Rookie of the Year Grace McLaughlin (Fr., Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) and Kailey Cordova (So., Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) claim First Team laurels with Emma Menjivar (Jr., Moreno Valley, Calif./Canyon Springs) garnering Second Team recognition.  The awards mark the inaugural All-Conference nods for the trio.

McLaughlin’s selection as Rookie of the Year marks the first such accolade for a Tigers’ athlete as she follows Wong (2019), Stephania Lopez (Connecticut, 2018), Cara Mullery (Macalester, 2017), Jane Eckles (Carthage, 2016), Maryn Horn (Penn State Behrend, 2015), Laura Travers (Washington & Jefferson College, 2014), Rachel Clauss (W&J, 2013), Hannah Hibbs (Wheaton College, 2012), Hillary Veselk (Carthage, 2011) and Amanda Johnston (Grove City, 2010).

Penn State Behrend, Carthage and Grove City complete the All-Conference team as the Lions, Firebirds and Wolverines each collect pairs of nods.

Shannon Young (So., Roseville, Calif./Roseville) and goalie Chloe Dodgen (So., Riverside, Calif./Hillcrest) of Penn State Behrend along with Meghan Fisher (Jr., Tinley Park, Ill./Frankfort-Lincoln-Way East) and Arianna Dakuras (Sr., Chicago, Ill./Oak Park-Fenwick) of Carthage each claim Second Team status.

Grove City concludes the All-Conference team as Elaine Miller (Jr., Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) – who previously earned 2019 Division III All-East First Team and Rookie of the Year honors – makes the First Team with Reese Trauger (So., Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) earning a spot on the Second Team.