Note: This story was updated on July 15th with ACWPC announcement after originally being posted in June.

IRVINE, Calif. - Following the best season in program history, the Concordia University Irvine women's water polo team saw a record 20 student-athletes earn BOTH WWPA All-Academic honors and ACWPC Academic Award recognition.

By earning a 3.44 team cumulative GPA, that marked the highest in the NCAA DII era for the CUI women's water polo program. 

This was the first season for the CUI women's water polo team as a conference member of the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA). The ACWPC stands for The Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.

To qualify for the ACWPC Academic Award, a player must:
- Carry a 3.2 cumulative GPA or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
- Dress in at least one contest

To qualify for the WWPA All-Academic Team, a player must:
- Be an active participant of their team.   
- Carry over a 3.0 Cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
- Be classified as a "full-time" student for all terms of attendance.
- Have completed a minimum of 1 semester or 2 quarters at their institution.

Here are the 20 CUI student-athletes who met all those criteria and excelled in the classroom this past season:

Lucy Aggs, So., Psychology
Munroe Blem, Soph., Biology
Kennedy Brubaker, Sr., Liberal Studies
Alexa De Villiers, Fr., Kinesiology
Hannah Edwards, Sr., Sports Business
Sydney Eisberg, Soph., Psychology
Madison Emerson, Fr., Biology
Sierrah Ferguson, Soph., Kinesiology
Claire Gluzman, Fr., Biology
Mia Hueston, Fr., Business Administration
Amber Lewis, Fr., Data Science
Myley Mendiburu, Fr., Liberal Studies
Sydney Neilon, So., Business Administration
Kailah Peery, Jr., Business Administration
Marilyn Rodriguez-Garcia de Leon, Jr., Kinesiology
Emeline Smiley, Soph., Kinesiology
Sofia Smith, Sr., Business Administration
Jaden Soto, Jr., Psychology
Anna Tyukasz, Soph., Business Administration
Cassady Woolley, Soph., Music

Munroe Blem led the Golden Eagles with a 3.92 GPA. In addition, this is the third consecutive season that Peery and Soto were named to the ACWPC All-Academic list.

Hueston, Soto and Tyukasz were also named ACWPC First Team All-Americans after Concordia's best season in the NCAA DII era.  The Golden Eagles won their first WWPA regular season title and also emerged as WWPA Conference Tournament Champions to earn their first trip to the NCAA Tournament. Concordia head coach Casey Greenawalt was also named NCAA DII Coach of the Year.

CLICK HERE for a look back at the historic 2026 CUI women's water polo season