Almendariz and Kahahawai Earn Spots on the All-GCC Team
4/22/2025 10:53:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
SANTA CLARA, CA--- The Gold Coast Conference released its All-Conference honorees on Tuesday morning, with two Lancers earning spots on the prestigious list.
Seniors Celeste Almendariz and Kyra Kahahawi were both included on the list, with Almendariz making the second team and Kahahawai earning a spot on the honorable mention list. For Almendariz, it was her second consecutive season on the list after being an honorable mention last season, and it was a first for Kahahawai. The Lancers have had at least two players on the list every season since 2014 (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign).
Almendariz was a force in the middle for the Lancers all season long, leading the team and the conference in drawn exclusions with 95 and finishing in the top three on the team in goals (43), points (56), field blocks (14), and steals (14). Almendariz's 95 drawn exclusions are the most in a single season in the NCAA era, topping her previous record that she set last season with 79. Almendariz had eight hat tricks this season, including a career-high five goals at the ASU Invitational against #23 San Diego State.
Kahahawai was also a handful in the middle for the Lancers, leading the team in goals (56), shots taken (113), and field blocks (22). Kahahawai led the conference in field blocks with 22 and was second on the team in points scored (67) and steals (15). The grad student accumulated 12 hat tricks this season and scored a season-high four goals on four different occasions, including in the team's upset win over #18 San Diego State at the Triton Invitational in early February. Kahahawai's defense was impeccable this season, as she recorded multiple field blocks in six matches and had at least one steal and one field block in seven games.
Almendariz, Kahahawai, and the Lancers will be in action this Friday at the GCC Tournament as they take on #4 San Diego State in the opening round in Los Angeles.
