Ionescu & Danko Claim Weekly WCC Water Polo Awards
9/22/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
SAN BRUNO, Calif. — No. 11 Pepperdine water polo swept the weekly West Coast Conference awards, announced today by the conference,
Junior Eric Ionescu received WCC Player of the Week while freshman Hunter Danko was named WCC Newcomer of the Week.Â
The duo helped the Waves to a 2-2 record at the MPSF invite this past weekend claiming wins over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and No. 14 UC Santa Barbara.Â
Ionescu led the Waves with ten goals and ten assists across the four games on the weekend. Â He began the weekend with a three-goal effort against No. 9 UC San Diego before posting three points in a win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. He followed it up with a season-high nine-point game against No. 15 LMU, logging four goals and five assists before a four-point effort to help defeat No. 14 UC Santa Barbara. It marks the second WCC Player of the Week nod in Ionescu's career, and first of the season. Ionescu currently ranks third in the WCC in both goals (35) and points (60).
Danko totaled nine goals and two assists in the four games at the MPSF Invite. He logged at least two goals in each game, including a hat trick against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Defensively, Danko added two steals and two field blocks across the weekend. The award marks the first WCC recognition in his career. Danko ranks sixth in the conference with 25 goals this season, while also ranking top-10 in points with 31.
The Waves will return to action Saturday, hosting No. 1 UCLA at 1 p.m. from Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.
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 67 athletes garner All-American honors while boasting a winning record in 37 of 51 seasons.
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