May 1, 2013
IRVINE, Calif. - The San Diego State water polo trio of Amber Pezzolla, Anique Hermann and Emily Whalen earned all-Big West Conference honors, the league announced Wednesday afternoon. Pezzolla was placed on the first team, while Hermann and Whalen garnered second-team and honorable mention accolades, respectively.
Pezzolla is just the second Aztec to be recognized as a four-time all-conference performer joining former four-time All-American Holly Hartzell, who accomplished the feat from 2001-04. The senior's first-team appointment comes after a season in which she led SDSU goals (71) and steals (69), and finished second on team in assists with 38. Her goal total is tied for the ninth-most in San Diego State single-season history and was the fourth-highest in the Big West.
Hermann, who completed her sophomore season, picked up her first-career postseason award. A native of San Diego, the driver had a team-best 40 assists and ranked second among her teammates in goals scored (38) and steals (61). Hermann drew a team-high 67 exclusions, which were 25 more than Pezzolla, who finished with the second-most on the team.
Whalen, meanwhile, also pocketed her first-ever postseason honor after a 2013 season in which she was one of five Aztecs to play in all 34 games (Pezzolla, Hermann, Carina Carballo, Samantha Voigt). The senior from Carmichael, produced the third-most goals (28) for SDSU, while assisting on 18 others and recording 33 steals. Additionally, the driver, along with Pezzolla and Hermann, had 11 field blocks, which was the second-highest total on the team.
The three all-league standouts are the most in a single season for SDSU since 2011 and marks the first time the Aztecs have had a first-team honoree since Holly Hartzell in 2004. This is also the first time San Diego State has had a first- and season-team performer in the same season since 1997.
SDSU is coming off its eighth-straight year of 20 or more victories after posting a 23-11 record. The 23 wins are its most since 2009 when San Diego State turned in an identical record. The Aztecs were also ranked in the top-8 nationally the entire season and twice rose to as high as No. 6.