Several college women water polo players from the South Coast have received All-American honors from the Association of the Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.
Despite the season being shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the coaches selected first, second and third teams and a honorable mention list for Divisions 1, 2 and 3.
In Division 1, Dos Pueblos alum and UCLA freshman Abbi Hill was named to the eight-player first team. She led the Bruins with 41 goals and was the team and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation leader in assists with 25 in 21 goals. She was the only player in the MPSF to rank in the top eight in goals, assists and steals.
UCSB’s Sarah Snyder received second-team honors. She led the Gauchos with 47 goals and 49 points on 88 shots, good for a .534 shooting percentage. The senior had 13 multi-goal performances over the course of the season, including seven hat tricks and two double hat-tricks. The Gauchos were 5-2 in games in which she recorded three or more goals.
The honorable mention list includes UCSB goalie Kenzi Snyder; San Marcos alum and UC Irvine sophomore center Piper Smith; Dos Pueblos alum and UC Irvine junior utility Toni Shackelford, and Santa Barbara alum and UC San Diego senior utility and team captain Jessee Ransone.
In Division 2, Sonoma State senior Jordan Williams, a Dos Pueblos alum, was named a second-team All-American.
Sonoma State announced it was dropping women’s water polo and men’s and women’s tennis as a cost-saving measure caused by the coronavirus-fueled economic decline. The school said it will be saving $800,000, which will be allocated to other sports programs.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.