Offensive Player of the Week
Samantha Bentley, Marist
Jr., Auckland, New Zealand,
Rangitoto College High School
Bentley played in four games this weekend helping Marist go 3-1 against four top 20 teams. In the four games Bentley recorded eight goals, four assists, and two steals. Versus University of the Pacific, she had two assists in the win. In game two against ASU Bentley scored one goal. In game three vs Fresno State she her best outing of the weekend, scoring four goals, with two assists, and one steal. Finally, in the last game of the week vs SDSU Bentley contributed three goals and a steal.
Defensive Player of the Week
Ines Sanchez, Marist
Sr., Barcelona, Spain, Voramon
Ines Sanchez played in all four games for the Red Foxes this weekend helping them go 3-1 against four top 20 teams. Against Pacific, Sanchez made saves on 11 of 16 shots for a save percentage of 69%. In game two vs ASU, she saved 3 of 6 shots for 50%. In game three vs Fresno State, Sanchez saved 9 of 13 shots for 69% while also having one steal in the game. Finally, in game four vs SDSU she saved 8 of 16 shots for 50% while also recording three steals.
Rookie of the Week
Madilyn Ekstrom, Marist
Fr., Fullerton, CA, Rosary Academy
Ekstrom played in four games this weekend to help Marist go 3-1 against four top 20 teams. Ekstrom contributed three goals, six assists, and four steals overall in the four games for the Red Foxes. In game one vs University of the Pacific she had two goals and three assists. In game two vs ASU she had two steals. In game three vs Fresno State she had one goal, two assists, and two steals. Finally, in game three vs SDSU she had one assist.
The 2026 MAAC Water Polo Championship will take place April 11-12, 2026. The four-team, single-elimination championship will be hosted by Marist University in Poughkeepsie, NY. Marist has hosted the Water Polo Championship annually since 2003. For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Water Polo Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/wp.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
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