Women's Water Polo 4/9/2025 12:51:00 PM Mollie Charlton, Sports Information Intern

Malezanov, Ratcliff Highlight All-CWPA Yearly Awards

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. – The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) announced its annual Division III awards on Wednesday. Head Coach Nikola Malezanov and three members of the Washington & Jefferson College Women's Water Polo team were recognized on the All-Conference Team.

As of 2024, nominations are now submitted by the nine head coaches or another designated official from the East (Connecticut College, Grove City College, Penn State Behrend, Washington & Jefferson College and Wheaton College (Mass.)) and West (Augustana College, Austin College, Carthage College, Macalester College) Region institutions.

Voting was conducted among each group's head coaches with the highest 12 field athletes, the top two goalie selections, a Most Valuable Player, a Rookie of the Year and a Coach of the Year selected in each group.

Malezanov earned his first CWPA Coach of the year achievement in his eighth official year as the Men's and Women's Water Polo head coach after serving as the interim head coach in the 2016 season.

Malezanov attained the honor after leading the program to a 6-2 record in CWPA play and 12-6 overall in the 2025 season. Malezanov converted his winning percentage from .368 in 2024 to .667 in the current season. This season, W&J sits as the third seed heading into the CWPA tournament.

Emmie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) was named to the All-CWPA First Team in addition to being the CWPA Rookie of the Year. Ratcliff is the first freshman to earn the Rookie or Most Valuable Player of the year honor since 2013 and 2014 where Laura Travers and Rachel Clauss earned the Rookie of the Year laurel for the Presidents in back-to-back years.

E. Ratcliff set a season-best 11 goals this season in a game against Grove City. E. Ratcliff has scored 61 goals so far in regular season play.

This marks the second-straight All-CWPA nod for Emma Halle (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) who joined E. Ratcliff on the First Team this year, proceeding her Second Team laurels earned last year in her junior season. The senior center has netted 60 goals in regular season play thus far heading into the CWPA tournament.

Hallie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) was tabbed an Honorable Mention selection.

Up Next: The women's water polo team travels next to Rock Island, Ill. for the CWPA Division III Championship. Their first tilt is set to get underway on Friday (April 11) at 4 p.m. CST against Carthage.

2025 Collegiate Water Polo Association Division III All-Conference Team

Most Valuable Player: Jess Palmer-Sammons (Macalester College)

Rookie of the Year: Emmie Ratcliff (Washington & Jefferson College)

Coach of the Year: Nikola Malezanov (Washington & Jefferson College)

First Team

Jayden Kratt (Goalie) Macalester College

Jess Palmer-Sammons Macalester College

Emmie Ratcliff Washington & Jefferson College

Emma Halle Washington & Jefferson College

Charlotte Newport Augustana College

Ashley Chand Austin College

Emma Luna Connecticut College