THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Lexi Rond was tabbed the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Division III Player of the Year, Izzy De Souza and Kaitlin Gardhouse joined Rond with First Team status and Jessica Diaz earned Honorable Mention to represent California Lutheran University women's water polo. CLU Head Coach Craig Rond was named Coach of the Year.
L. Rond is the third Regal to earn Division III Player of the Year, joining the ranks of Meredith Butte (2009) and Bailey Meyer (2019). This is the second straight year that four Regals have earned All-America status. The most CLU has had is five, which happened in 2019.
L. Rond (Ventura, Calif.) was named First Team All-America for the third straight year. The junior led the team with 34 goals and 25 drawn ejections, in just eight games. She added five steals, four assists and one field block. Against Div-I Fresno State, in the NC Water Polo Championships, L. Rond led all goal scorers with five.
De Souza (Irvine, Calif.) earned First Team All-America in her first collegiate season. The freshman was lights out in the cage. In seven games, she recorded 96 saves, eight assists and four steals. Versus Fresno State, she helped keep the Regals in the game and made 12 saves.
Gardhouse Agoura Hills, Calif.) was tabbed First Team All-America after being named Second Team in 2020. An all-around threat for the Purple and Gold, the junior led the team with 22 assists. She was second on the team in drawn ejections with 13 and added 11 goals, five steals and three field blocks.
Diaz (Madera, Calif.) was selected Honorable Mention All-America for the second consecutive season. The senior was second on the team with 16 goals. She also contributed 10 assists, 10 steals, five field blocks and three drawn ejections.
C. Rond earned his third Women's Division III Coach of the Year honors and second in just three years. In the shortened season, he led the Regals to a SCIAC Tournament Championship, a 7-1 record and a berth in the National Collegiate Water Polo Championships.
ACWPC Release: Women's 2021 Division III All-America
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director
