BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — George Washington University’s Dara Bleiberg (Fr., Simi Valley, Calif./Royal) registered seven goals, five assists, two steals and six ejections drawn in a 2-2 weekend for the Colonials on the West Coast to earn notice as the March 12 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division I Rookie of the Week award.
A two-time Rookie of the Week recipient in 2018 after previously sharing the February 12 award with teammate Alana Ponce (Fr., Gig Harbor, Wash./Gig Harbor) and Marialena Seletopoulou (Fr., Glyfada, Athens, Greece/Yannopoulos School) of Saint Francis University, Bleiberg factored in each game during the Colonials’ California trip.
Facing Fresno Pacific University on Friday, March 9, during the California Baptist University’s Lancer Joust, she recorded arguably her best game of the trip by racking up three goals, an assist and an ejection drawn to help George Washington post a 12-10 win.
She added to her totals against Concordia University on Saturday, March 10, during the second day of the Lancer Joust by tallying a goal, an assist, a steal and an ejection in a 10-4 win. George Washington closed out the tournament later the same day with an 8-7 defeat by host/No. 24-ranked Cal Baptist. Bleiberg notched a goal, an assist and an ejection drawn in the loss.
On Sunday, March 11, GW finished off the trip by dropping a 15-7 game at No. 15 Long Beach State University. Bleiberg fueled the Colonials in the game by factoring in over half of the Colonials’ offensive production with two goals, two assists, a steal and three ejections drawn.
March 12 CWPA Division I Rookie of the Week Honor Roll: Quinne Pursell (Harvard University); Marialena Seletopoulou (Saint Francis University); Maddy Johnston (University of Michigan)
