Seven Bruins Earn ACWPC All-American Awards
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BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Seven members of the UCLA women's water polo team earned ACWPC 2022 All-America recognition, the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches announced today.
Redshirt senior attacker Maddie Musselman headlined the list of Bruin selections as the lone First-Team honoree. Senior center Ava Johnson was the only Bruin to earn Second-Team honors. The remaining five Bruins earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades, which included senior attacker Val Ayala, senior utility Katrina Drake, junior utility Abbi Hill, redshirt junior goalkeeper Georgia Phillips, and freshman attacker Molly Renner.
Musselman led the Bruins in nearly every statistical category on the year with team-highs in goals (69, 3rd in MPSF), assists (39, 8th in MPSF), total points (108, 3rd in MPSF), steals (46, led MPSF), field blocks (17, 3rd in MPSF), and sprints won (.984, 60-1), which led the MPSF and the nation. Musselman became the school's all-time leading scorer in 2022, finishing her collegiate career with 251 goals. She is the seventh Bruin in UCLA history to become a four-time All-American (2017-19, 2022). She also became just the second Bruin to earn First-Team All-America honors four times (2017-19, 2022), joining Rachel Fattal (2013-15, 2017).
Johnson was seventh on the team in scoring with 38 points (30 goals, eight assists). The 30 goals ranked sixth on the team. She led the squad in exclusions drawn with a career-best 96 on the year. She tied for sixth on the team in field blocks (15). Johnson is a three-time All-American after earning First-Team honors a year ago and being named Honorable Mention in 2020.
Ayala was third on the team in scoring with 57 points (34 goals, 23 assists). Her 34 goals ranked fourth on the squad while the 23 assists ranked tied for fourth. She ranked fifth on the team in steals with 15. She became the eighth player in UCLA history to become a four-time All-American after earning Third-Team honors in 2021, Second-Team acclaim in 2020 and Honorable Mention honors as a freshman.
Drake finished fourth on the team in scoring with 47 points (35 goals, 12 assists). The 35 goals ranked third on the squad while the 12 assists ranked seventh. She also was third on the team in exclusions drawn with 28 on the year. This is the second time she has earned All-America honors in her career (Honorable Mention in 2020).
Hill tied for ninth on the team in scoring with 32 points (22 goals, 10 assists). The 22 goals ranked tied for eighth on the team. She also finished fourth on the squad in exclusions drawn (24). This is her third straight All-America honor after being named Honorable Mention in 2021 and to the First Team as a freshman.
Philiips led the MPSF in save percentage (.604) and total saves (285). She also ranked third in the MPSF in goals against average at 7.35. This is the second All-America honor of her career after also being named Honorable Mention in 2020.
Renner, a true freshman, tied for fifth on the team with 45 points (31 goals, 14 assists). The 31 goals ranked fifth on the squad while the 14 assists ranked sixth. Her 17 steals also tied for third-highest on the team this season. This is her first All-American honors.