Schultz Named SCC MVP, Oeding Crowned SCC Coach of the Year

After the women's water polo team hauled in their fourth-consecutive South Coast Conference (SCC) title this year, it was recently announced that seven players were named to the All-SCC teams. Head coach Chris Oeding was named the SCC Coach of the Year for the fourth-consecutive year following another undefeated 10-0 conference showing.

Sophomore attacker Jillian Schultz earned SCC's Most Valuable Player, All-SoCal First-Team and All-American status, while sophomore attacker Sydney Brightenburg earned First-Team All-SCC, Second-Team All-SoCal and All-American honors. Freshman attacker Rachel Westphal also took home First-Team All-SCC and All-SoCal Second-Team. Sophomore attacker Karissa Qualley rounded out the All-SCC First-Team selection and sophomore center Alejandra Villa and sophomore attacker Lauren Westphal were named to the All-SCC Second-Team.

Schultz earned the Most Valuable Player award for leading the conference with 96 goals and 48 steals. Schultz was a leader in the water for the Vikings on both offense and defense as she led the team with nine field blocks and drew ten ejections on her opponents. Brightenburg reeled in her second-consecutive First-Team honors with tallying 68 goals for the Vikings. Brightenburg's accurate shots were a huge offensive threat to her opponents throughout the season.

Hinojosa was also named to the First-Team All-SCC list for the second-consecutive year as she led the team with 40 assists. Qualley also earned All-SCC honors for the second time as she was acknowledged on the First-Team list for her offensive efforts as a driver. Qualley had 15 goals, 13 assists and 24 steals this season.

Sophomore center Alejandra Villa earned her second All-SCC accolades with Second-Team selection as the center position with 46 goals. Finalizing the All-SCC awards was sophomore attacker Lauren Westphal, who had 26 steals and 26 goals for the Vikings.

The women's water polo team will return to the pool next Fall.