WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College women's water polo team returns to open up their 2026 campaign on Sunday (Feb. 22) in the Henry Memorial Natatorium when they host the W&J Invitational.
 
2025 Season Review: Nikola Malezanov enters his tenth season in charge of W&J men's and women's water polo. He was named the Division III Coach of the Year last season by the ACWPC The program will be looking to build off there 14-9 season that included making the Collegiate Water Polo Association Championship Match and a birth at the Division III National Championships.
 
W&J started last season 3-1 which included wins against Division I Mercyhurst. The Presidents also had a 6-0 run in March with wins against Grove City, Connecticut College, and Augustana (Ill.).
 
W&J closed out the season going 3-1 in the beginning of April leading up to the CWPA Division III Championships. The Presidents entered the conference championship as the No. 3 seed, winning two close matches (16-14, and 9-6) against Carthage and Macalester before falling in a tight 7-10 contest to Augustana.
 
The championship match berth allowed the Presidents to earn a spot at the 2025 USA Water Polo Division III National Championships in the Quad Cities. While there, the Presidents had to take on the top seeded Pomona-Pitzer and battled in a close 12-13 defeat to the No. 2 seeded hosts Augustana.
 
The Presidents had three key departures graduating in the class of 2025. Captain Anastacia Didovich (Venice, Fla./Venice) '25 had five goals and six assists during the team's run in the conference and national championships.
 
Emma Halle (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) '25 is the reigning CWPA Division III Championships Player of the Tournament and was First Team All-Conference for her performances in the regular season. She had 14 goals during the team's playoff run.
 
Finally, goalkeeper Alliey Cunningham (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) '25 was an ACWPC Division III All-American Honorable Mention last season and made the Second All-Tournament Team at Division III Nationals.
 
In addition to Malezanov winning Division III Coach of the Year, Halle was named a Second Team All-American, along with Emmie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) and Cunningham being named All-America Honorable Mentions by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.
 
Key Returners: W&J welcomes back four returners for the upcoming season.
 
The Ratcliff sisters will be looking to build off stellar seasons in 2025. Sophomore Emmie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) was voted the CWPA Division III Rookie of the Year, and selected to the CWPA Division III First Team, and the All-Tournament First Team at the CWPA Division III Championships. Additionally, junior Hallie Ratcliff (Friendswood, Texas/Friendswood) was voted as a CWPA Division III Honorable Mention and received academic honors as part of the CSC Academic All-District At-Large team and the ACWPC All-Academic Team.
 
Sophomore Autumn Woollcott (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) was also selected to the ACWPC All-Academic Team. Junior Sabrina Estrada (Pico Rivera, Calif./Santa Fe) is also set to rejoin the team in 2026 after missing the 2025 season.
 
Looking Ahead to 2026: W&J will be opening the season on Sunday (Feb. 22) when they host the W&J Invitational at the Henry Memorial Natatorium. The team are slated to compete against Grove City and Penn State Behrend.
 
The CWPA Division III Championships are currently scheduled for Friday (Apr. 10) through Sunday (Apr. 12) hosted by Wheaton (Mass.) in the Boston suburbs.