Five Wolverines Earn CWPA All-Conference Honors
4/24/2024 12:02:00 PM | Water Polo
BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Five members of the University of Michigan water polo team were named to Collegiate Water Polo Association All-Conference teams, the conference announced on Wednesday (April 24). Libby Alsemgeest and Kata Utassy were tabbed first team selections, while Alex Brown, Lola Ciruli and Elise Walker landed on the second team.
Alsemgeest and Utassy have been critical pieces to Michigan's attack and both seniors earned recognition on the Peter J. Cutino Watch List this season, an award presented annually to the best men's and women's college water polo player. At center, Alsemgeest was a force in the middle of the pool, scoring 32 goals on just 73 shots and drawing 108 exclusions in 27 games. Utassy has been the maestro of the attack, scoring 60 goals and assisting on another 32 for a total of 92 points. Alsemgeest earns all-conference recognition for the first time in her career while Utassy landed on the first team for the second straight season.
Brown continues to be a steady presence in goal for Michigan. In 2024, she has saved 267 shots in 28 games and has recorded double-digit stops in 16 games this year -- including a stretch of seven games in a row from Feb. 24 through March 23. Brown became just the third Wolverine in program history to record 900 saves or more in a career. Ciruli provided a spark on both ends of the pool, tallying 49 points on offense and swiping 32 steals. The senior also got the Wolverines off to fast starts by winning 34 sprints. Rounding out the all-conference honorees, Walker notched 31 points with 24 goals and seven assists. Beyond the stat sheet, all three Wolverines provided valuable leadership as team captains for the 2024 season. Brown garners all-conference recognition for the second time in her U-M tenure. Both Ciruli and Walker capture their first all-league awards.
Michigan leads all conference schools with five total selections and three second-team honorees.
U-M will start its postseason at the CWPA Championship on Saturday (April 27) when it takes on the winner of Harvard vs. Saint Francis at 2 p.m. at Blodgett Pool in Cambridge, Mass.
2024 CWPA Division I All-Conference Team
Most Valuable Player: Lindsey Lucas (Princeton)
Rookie of the Year: Maya O'Dea (Harvard)
Coach of the Year: Derek Ellingson (Princeton)
First Team
Goalie: Lindsey Lucas (Princeton)
Kayla Yelensky (Princeton)
Rachael Carver (Princeton)
LIBBY ALSEMGEEST (MICHIGAN)
KATA UTASSY (MICHIGAN)
Ella Palmer (Brown)
Ruby Hodge (Harvard)
Second Team
GOALIE: ALEX BROWN (MICHIGAN)
ELISE WALKER (MICHIGAN)
LOLA CIRULLI (MICHIGAN)
Maddie Poissonnier (Brown)
Isabelle Monaghan (Bucknell)
Kaity Greenwald (Harvard)
Emese Szucs (Saint Francis)
• CWPA Release
