BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Emily Ritner (Sr., Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) of No. 8-ranked the University of Michigan scored three times and dished out an assist while helping the Wolverines hold No. 13 Indiana University to three goals in a 10-3 win to earn recognition as the March 15 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division I Defensive Player of the Week.
Facing the Hoosiers on Saturday, March 13, in Bloomington, Indiana, Ritner tallied two goals, an assist and a drawn exclusion in a 13-11 victory as Michigan improved to 3-0 on the year against the Hoosiers. The Wolverines previously topped IU by scores of 8-5 and 11-6 during a home weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich., on February 20-21.
Ritner’s most influential game of the week came on Sunday, March 14, as she scored once, drew an exclusion and wrestled away three steals as the Maize & Blue limited Indiana to three goals in a 10-3 win.
The award is the first weekly honor bestowed on Emily Ritner and the third claimed by her family in 2021 as sister/goalie Heidi Ritner (Gr., Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) earned Defensive Player of the Week accolades on February 22 and March 1.
Overall, the Ritner family now has 16 Defensive Player of the Week and 21 overall weekly laurels from the league office as Heidi Ritner previously reeled in awards during the 2017 (Rookie of the Week: January 23, February 13, February 27, April 10, May 15; Defensive Player of the Week: January 23, February 27, April 10, May 15), 2018 (Defensive Player of the Week: January 22, March 12, May 14), 2019 (Defensive Player of the Week: February 25, March 18, April 15) and 2020 (Defensive Player of the Week: January 20, January 27, February 24) seasons.
March 15 Collegiate Water Polo Association Division I Defensive Player of the Week Honor Roll: Paige Furano (Bucknell University); Rebekka Williams (Mount St. Mary’s University)
