LEBANON, Ill. - The Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) has released its 2025 All-Conference honors on Wednesday, April 23rd ahead of their WWPA Championships tournament that will be held in West Virginia this weekend. 

A total of six Bearcat players were recognized, accumulating a total of nine honors amongst themselves. This is the first time in the program's history – especially within the WWPA era – that McKendree has snagged a major yearly award within the conference, as they have obtained two this year. 

Head Coach Alex Figueras praised his players with the following statement: 

"I am beyond proud of all of the hard work that all of these athletes have put in throughout the season, and I'm excited for their efforts to be recognized. This is definitely a momentum boost for us going into the most important weekend of the year." 

Senior goalkeeper Sydney Kane (Kankakee, Ill.) was tabbed for Player of the Year as she was highly regarded as one of the sturdiest players guarding the cage in the nation. Along with her POTY honor, she was selected to the All-WWPA First Team and All-Defensive Team.  

All year, Kane was atop the leaderboards in several statistical categories, headlined by being top two in the conference in saves (1st – 295), save percentage (2nd – 59.4%), goals-against average (2nd – 8.37), and saves per game (1st – 11.3). Her total steals (30) and steals per game (1.2) were also placed sixth and seventh, respectively.  

Kane was one of the best in the whole NCAA within the same categories, being first in total saves (295), placing second in saves per game (11.3), and ending up third in save percentage (59.4%) with a sixth-best goals against average (8.37). The Kankakee native hit the 800-career saves plateau on her senior day in a commanding win over Carthage College at home. 

The senior, this year alone, collected three WWPA Defensive Player of the Week awards, giving her five total in her four-year career. She is a former WWPA Second Team All-Conference, a conference honorable mention, an All-Freshman Team, and a three-time All-Academic in both the WWPA and the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC). 

Sophomore center Bella Morquecho (Chicago, Ill.) was given this year's Newcomer of the Year honor, with a spot alongside Kane in the All-WWPA First Team. Morquecho immediately became a player of impact for this year's McKendree squad, leading the team with 67 total goals on a 50.0 shooting percentage. She was a nightmare for opposing teams, as she also racked up 79 drawn exclusions in her 26 games played. 

The sophomore is currently towards the top of the WWPA in several offensive statistics, including total goals (3rd – 67), total points (6th – 70), goals per game (3rd – 2.6), and points per game (9th – 2.7). 

Morquecho was named WWPA Offensive Player of the Week back on February 12th after a 14-goal and 18-drawn exclusion weekend at California. Out of her 26 games played this season, there were only four times when she did not register a drawn exclusion. 

Junior attacker Joey Rebelo (Montreal, Québec) earned her way onto this year's All-WWPA First Team selection, making it the second straight year that she earned such honor. She did not slow down one bit throughout the season, tallying a team-second-best 62 goals on 49.2% shooting while also contributing as a key facilitator, also posting a second-best 36 assists and 29 drawn exclusions. 

Rebelo stuffed the stat sheet amongst the leaderboards within the conference all year. She is top 10 in total goals (4th – 62), total assists (7th – 33), total points (2nd – 95), total steals (9th – 27), goals per game (4th – 2.4), assists per game (7th – 1.3), and points per game (1st – 3.7). 

The Junior has had 11 hat-tricks thus far in the season and was highlighted by an eight-goal game against Austin College and a six-goal match versus Virginia Military Institute. She has dropped in a goal in all but three games [out of 26] this year. 

Rebelo earned a pair of WWPA Player of the Week honors this season to bring her at five in her three-year tenure. Along with her First Team selection last year, Rebelo has been an ACWPC First Team All-American, a WWPA All-Freshman Team, an All-Tournament Team, and a two-time All-Academic in both the WWPA and the ACWPC. 

Fifth-year attacker Jasmin Guzman (Cicero, Ill.) just missed the cut for the All-Conference teams, as she was chosen as an honorable mention. She had tabbed 21 goals and 23 assists (44 points) on a 43.8 shooting percentage while drawing 19 exclusions and stealing the ball 14 times. 

Her best games this season was in the season openor against the University of California, Merced and the most recent outing against Salem University where she recorded a hat-trick in both matches. 

Guzman earned conference honorable mention last year as well, along with a spot on the WWPA All-Tournament First Team. 

Junior center defender Allie Diller (Grand Ledge, Mich.) was selected to the WWPA All-Defensive Team due to her constant efforts on the protective end of the pool. Her style of play was not reflected on the scoresheet, but she did prove herself immensely, playing center defender in 25 of her 26 games played. 

Diller totaled 19 steals and three field blocks, which helped out teammate and fellow All-Defensive Team member Sydney Kane in guarding the net. To supplement, Diller had eight goals and 10 assists plus 10 drawn exclusions on the offensive end. 

The junior is a former two-time All-Academic for both the WWPA and the ACWPC in 2023 and 2024. 

Freshman utility Maisie Mattocks (Shutesbury, Mass.) was selected to the All-Freshman Team after a solid first season of play. She registered the most goals of any Bearcat freshman this season with seven. 

Mattocks was a factor on both ends of the pool every time she dove in. The Shutesbury native totaled four assists, 11 points, 10 drawn exclusions, eight steals, and a pair of field blocks to support her scoring abilities. 

UP NEXT

McKendree – who clinched the 1-seed in the east region – will be back in action when they face the University of California, Merced in an exhibition match in the WWPA Championships tournament, which will be held at Peak Health Aquatic Center at Mylan Park (hosted by Salem) from April 25th to 27th. 

The exhibition versus the Bobcats will be on Friday, April 25th at 8:00 AM CT. Then on Saturday, April 26th, McKendree will face either Gannon University or Fresno Pacific University in the semifinal round at 10:00 AM CT.

If the Bearcats win the semifinals, they will play for the WWPA championship at 12:00 PM CT on Sunday, April 27th. However, if they falter, they will play earlier in the day at 10:00 AM CT for third place.  

The winner of the 2025 WWPA Championship will earn an auto-bid into the upcoming National Collegiate Water Polo Championships, which will be held from May 9th to 11th in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

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