Women’s Water Polo: ‘Eaters amass honors

UC Irvine junior Danielle Warde has been named Big West Conference Player of the Year in women’s water polo.

Warde, who led the Anteaters with 56 goals on the way to the Big West regular-season and tournament titles, is one of five UCI players on the first team.

UCI’s Dan Klatt was named Coach of the Year.

Warde, a utility player, becomes the third UCI player to earn the conference’s top individual honor, joining Gianna Rossi in 2009 and current teammate Jessy Cardey, who collected the award in 2011 and 2012.

Warde, who redshirted in 2013, was a second-team honoree in 2012.

Cardey as well as fellow seniors Hannah Croghan and Hillary Estrada, as well as junior goalie Jillian Yocum, also represent UCI (24-7) on the first team.

Cardey has 52 goals this season, giving her a school-career-record 218 for her career, surpassing the standard held previously by Robyn Kaake. She is a four-time first-team honoree.

Croghan, the MVP of the Big West Tournament, has 44 goals this season, while Estrada (17 goals) is the team’s top defensive player.

Croghan is a two-time first-team honoree, as is Yocum, who has 184 saves this season and a 6.44 goals-against average.

Five players on the first team are a program first.

Klatt has received the top coaching honor in five of the conference’s six seasons of existence.

UCI is the No. 6 seed in the 10-team NCAA Tournament that begins May 9 at USC. The Anteaters will face host USC in the opening round at 1:45 p.m.

Sophomore center McLenna Mitchell (46 goals) received honorable mention.

— From staff reports