BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Goalie Heidi Ritner (Gr., Newport Beach, Calif./Corona del Mar) made 27 saves with 10 steals for No. 6-ranked the University of Michigan over the span of three starts at the Arizona State University Invitational to earn status as the March 1 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division I Defensive Player of the Week.
She opened a four-game stretch by the Wolverines in Tempe, Arizona, by stopping eight shots and grabbing three steals in a 12-10 upset of the host/No. 4 Sun Devils on Friday, February 26. A day later she turned away 12 chances and corralled a trio of steals in a 10-6 loss to No. 1 the University of Southern California.
On Sunday, February 28, she returned to the water to make seven saves with four steals in a 7-5 loss to Arizona State.
The award marks the 15th Defensive Player of the Week and 20th overall weekly honor from the league office during her time with the Maize & Blue. The January 23, February 13, February 27, April 10 and May 15 Rookie of the Week during the 2017 season, she picked up Defensive Player of the Week nods in 2017 (January 23, February 27, April 10, May 15), 2018 (January 22, March 12, May 14), 2019 (February 25, March 18, April 15) and the COVID-19 abbreviated 2020 (January 20, January 27, February 24) campaigns. Ritner was previously named the February 22 Defensive Player of the Week earlier this season.
