SAN BRUNO, Calif. — No. 9 Pepperdine water polo earned both West Coast Conference (WCC) weekly awards, with sophomore
Erik Ionescu earning WCC Player of the Week and freshman
Csanád Bella claiming WCC Newcomer of the Week, announced today.
The duo helped the Waves pick up a 15-9 victory on the road at No. 17 Santa Clara this past Friday, ending the regular season with a fifth straight win which put Pepperdine into the No. 3 seed ahead of the WCC Tournament.
Ionescu, a native of Budapest, Hungary, scored a game-high four goals in the victory to pace the Pepperdine offense. He added a steal and pair of field blocks in the effort as the Waves ended the game on an 11-4 spurt. The sophomore has led the Waves with 88 points this season through 53 goals and 35 assists, as the win marks his first weekly recognition from the conference this season.
Bella, a native of Budapest, Hungary, added a hat trick and pair of field blocks while drawing two exclusions in the victory. Bella has scored 23 goals in his debut season with the Waves to go along with 15 steals and 16 field blocks. It marked his third game with at least three goals this season, as the award is his first weekly honor from the WCC of his career.
The Waves will return for a rematch with Santa Clara in a WCC quarterfinal matchup Friday, with opening sprint set for 1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. MT from the U.S. Air Force Academy.
2025 KAP7 West Coast Conference Men's Water Polo Players of the Week
September 2: Tom Leggett, Air Force
September 9: Tom Leggett, Air Force
September 16: Tommaso Baldineti, LMU
September 23: Riccardo De Simon, Santa Clara
September 30: Riccardo De Simon, Santa Clara
October 7: Reese Jenican, Santa Clara
October 14: Andrea Nuzzo, California Baptist
October 21: Kiss Gergely, Pacific
October 28: Apostolos Georgaras, Pacific
November 3: Petar Popovic, Pacific
November 11: Abel Romero Corbalan, LMU
November 18: Erik Ionescu, Pepperdine
2025 KAP7 West Coast Conference Men's Water Polo Newcomers of the Week
September 2: Borisz Kasa-Gal, Pacific
September 9: Apostolos Georgaras, Pacific
September 16: Roberto Barrera Sanchez, LMU
Septmeber 23: Brian Barnuevo, Pepperdine
September 30: Imme van der Schaaf, Santa Clara
October 7: Alika Naone, LMU
October 14: Kiss Gergely, Pacific
October 21: Apostolos Georgaras, Pacific
October 28: Apostolos Georgaras, Pacific
November 3: Sam Keightley, San José State
November 11: Sam Keightley, San José State
November 18: Csanád Bella, Pepperdine
ABOUT PEPPERDINE WATER POLO
Pepperdine water polo has seen success spanning decades under Terry Schroeder who gave the reins to Merrill Moses following the 2023 season. Highlighted by its national championship in 1997 with Moses as the starting goalie, the Waves have reached the NCAA Tournament on 13 occasions and recently won the inaugural WCC Regular Season Championship in 2023. Overall, the program has seen 60 athletes garner All-American honors while boasting a winning record in 36 of 50 seasons.
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