LEBANON, Ill. - The Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) has announced their weekly winners for February 12th, 2025, with sophomore center Bella Morquecho (Chicago, Ill.) obtaining the WWPA Offensive Player of the Week while senior goalkeeper Sydney Kane (Kankakee, Ill.) receiving the WWPA Defensive Player of the Week.
This is Morquecho's first-ever selection since joining the Bearcats via Iona University over the summer. It is the second time the McKendree program has won offensive honors this season and is the fifth overall within the past two years.
For Kane, it is her fourth time being selected for the weekly honor, with all of them coming as defensive. She still remains the program's only goalkeeper to receive the award.
Interim Head Coach Alex Figueras spoke on Morquecho and Kane upon their recognitions:
"Bella has been a force for us in the middle this year and I am super happy for her to earn recognition for the work that she's done. Sydney earning this honor again just speaks to how consistent she's been all year. I am proud of both of them for what they've accomplished so far and for what's still to come!"
BELLA MORQUECHO
On a light weekend slate that saw a well-balanced team effort in two controlling wins, Morquecho was the most impactful of the bunch. She averaged 3.0 goals (6 total), 0.5 drawn exclusions (1 total), and 1.0 steals (2 total) in the two games played this weekend on a 66.6% (6-for-9) shooting percentage.
In the game one win against DIII No.6 Augustana College, she had two goals on three shot attempts (66.6%) with a steal. In the game two win against Carthage College, she had four goals on six attempts (66.6%) with a drawn exclusion and a steal.
The sophomore leads the team in goals (26) and drawn exclusions (40) while being third in shooting percentage (55.3%).
The Chicago, Illinois native ranks at the top of the WWPA currently in total goals (1st – 26), total points (2nd – 27), goals per game (1st – 2.6), and points per game (5th – 2.7).
SYDNEY KANE
Kane allowed the fewest goals (12) for any team in the WWPA this past weekend despite being the only team to have played multiple games. Kane averaged 7.5 saves (15 total), and 3.0 steals (6 total) in the two games played this weekend in 56:00 out of 64:00 minutes played combined.
In the game one win at DIII No.6 Augustana College, she had 11 saves on a 68.8% save percentage with a season-high four steals. In the game two win against Carthage College, she has four saves on a 40.0% save percentage with two steals in 24:00 minutes of play.
The senior is top in the WWPA in total steals (1st – 14), total saves (1st – 101), save percentage (1st – 55.2%), goals-against average (2nd – 8.86), saves per game (1st – 10.1) and steals per game (2nd – 1.4).
The Kankakee, Illinois native is top nationally as of February 8th in total steals (8th – 14), total saves (1st – 101), save percentage (2nd – 55.2%), goals-against average (4th – 8.86), saves per game (1st – 10.1), and steals per game (9th – 1.4).
UP NEXT
McKendree will be back in action next weekend when they hit the road to the Macalester Invitational, which will be hosted by Macalester College. They will face Ottawa University Arizona at 10:00 AM CT and Macalester at 2:30 PM CT on Saturday, February 15th. Then, they will take on Virginia Military Institute at 9:00 AM CT and Caltech at 2:00 PM CT on day two on Sunday, February 16th. All games will be played at the Riley Pool in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
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