TEMPE – Four members of the Sun Devil Water Polo program added another accolade to their already impressive résumé, earning 2018 Women's Division I All-American honors as announced by the ACWPC on Monday.
The four ACWPC All-American teams are determined by the voting of coaches throughout the country. Arizona State matched a program-high with four student-athletes recognized as All-Americans, also accomplishing the feat in 2013, 2014, and 2016. Since the All-American teams began in 2004, 20 different Sun Devils have been awarded All-American status a total of 38 times.
Redshirt senior goaltender Mia Rycraw and sophomore defender Bente Rogge led the way, representing the first Sun Devils to earn Second Team All-American distinction since Ao Gao in 2014. Additionally, redshirt senior center Alkistis Benekou earned Third Team All-American honors while junior attacker Maud Koopman made the Honorable Mention list.
Thanks to her Second Team status, Mia Rycraw has now been named an ACWPC All-American for the third consecutive year. She is the second goaltender in program history to be named to three All-American teams (E.B. Keeve, 2013-15). After a breakout sophomore season in 2016, Rycraw became just the second goaltender in school history to receive First Team honors (Caylinn Wallace, 2008). Rycraw completed her career as one of the best goaltenders in MPSF history, finishing with over 200 saves for the third consecutive season. She recorded ten double-digit save performances, including a 15-save effort in the season finale victory over No. 20 San Jose State. Rycraw became the third Sun Devil, and the 15th goalie in MPSF history, to record 800+ saves in a career.
Bente Rogge joined teammate Mia Rycraw in making the Second Team, as the sophomore collects her second All-American honor. In her first two years on campus in Tempe, Rogge has made an instant impact. She earned Third Team All-American honors after a terrific freshman campaign in which she enjoyed a 30-goal campaign. Rogge was dominant on both ends in the pool during her second season, showing vast improvement in her game as she continues to develop under Coach Clapper. Rogge finished the 2018 season with 35 goals, 18 assists, and 15 steals. She demonstrated consistency right from the start of the season, scoring in each of her first four matches and 20 of 25 total matches on the season. During a 10-match period stretching from February 4th-March 10th, Rogge scored at least one goal in each match, putting together eight multi-goal performances during that time.
After being selected as an All-American in each of her first two seasons in Tempe, Alkistis Benekou found herself back in familiar territory on the All-American list as a Third Team selection. Benekou continued to climb up the Sun Devil's all-time goals scored list, finishing her final campaign in Tempe with 38 goals. The Athens, Greece native put together four consecutive 30-goal season, finishing her career with 181 goals. The 181 goals are the third most for a career in school history. Benekou never failed to reach at least 38 goals in a season during her Sun Devil career. As a freshman, she was garnered Honorable Mention All-American honors after a breakout 56-goal season.
Rounding out the honorees for Arizona State, junior Maud Koopman notched her second All-American honorable mention recognition. Koopman also received Honorable Mention distinction as a freshman in 2016, totaling 77 points (39 goals & 38 assists) and 39 steals that season. This year, Koopman tallied a career-best and team-high 42 goals while adding 18 assists. She was equally as effective on the defensive end of the pool, compiling 39 steals for the second time in her career. In just three seasons as a Sun Devil, Koopman has 122 goals scored, placing her six away from cracking the Top-10 in school history for goal scored. Koopman returns as the Sun Devils main offensive weapon, embracing an increased leadership role at Arizona State.
Stay tuned to the website and our social media accounts for updates on current and former members of the Sun Devil Water Polo program as they compete throughout the world this summer.
SUN DEVIL WATER POLO ACWPC ALL-AMERICANS (38)
2018: Mia Rycraw (Second), Bente Rogge (Second), Alkistis Benekou (Third), Maud Koopman (HM)
2017: Bente Rogge, (Third), Mia Rycraw (HM), Lena Mihailovic (HM)
2016: Ao Gao (First), Mia Rycraw (First), Abbey Kerth (HM), Maud Koopman (HM)
2015: Izabella Chiappini (Third), E.B. Keeve (HM), Alkistis Benekou (HM)
2014: Ao Gao (Second), E.B. Keeve (Third), Alkistis Benekou (HM), Petra Pardi (HM)
2013: Alicia Brightwell (Second), Ao Gao (Second), Shannon Haas (Third), E.B. Keeve (HM)
2012: Alicia Brightwell (First), Shannon Haas (Third), Mariam Salloum (HM)
2011: Sarah Harris (HM), Mariam Salloum (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2010: Sarah Harris (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2009: Addison McGrath (Second), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2008: Addison McGrath (First), Caylinn Wallace (First), Kelly Phelps (HM)
2007: Addison McGrath (HM)
2006: Rowie Webster (Third)
2004: Katie Davis (HM)
HISTORY OF SUN DEVIL ALL-AMERICANS (Number of Selections)
Addison McGrath (3)
Lynlee Smith (3)
Ao Gao (3)
E.B. Keeve (3)
Alkistis Benekou (3)
Mia Rycraw (3)
Bente Rogge (2)
Maud Koopman (2)
Alicia Brightwell (2)
Sarah Harris (2)
Mariam Salloum (2)
Shannon Haas (2)
Lena Mihailovic (1)
Abbey Kerth (1)
Izabella Chiappini (1)
Petra Pardi (1)
Caylinn Wallace (1)
Kelly Phelps (1)
Rowie Webster (1)
Katie Davis (1)
The four ACWPC All-American teams are determined by the voting of coaches throughout the country. Arizona State matched a program-high with four student-athletes recognized as All-Americans, also accomplishing the feat in 2013, 2014, and 2016. Since the All-American teams began in 2004, 20 different Sun Devils have been awarded All-American status a total of 38 times.
Redshirt senior goaltender Mia Rycraw and sophomore defender Bente Rogge led the way, representing the first Sun Devils to earn Second Team All-American distinction since Ao Gao in 2014. Additionally, redshirt senior center Alkistis Benekou earned Third Team All-American honors while junior attacker Maud Koopman made the Honorable Mention list.
Thanks to her Second Team status, Mia Rycraw has now been named an ACWPC All-American for the third consecutive year. She is the second goaltender in program history to be named to three All-American teams (E.B. Keeve, 2013-15). After a breakout sophomore season in 2016, Rycraw became just the second goaltender in school history to receive First Team honors (Caylinn Wallace, 2008). Rycraw completed her career as one of the best goaltenders in MPSF history, finishing with over 200 saves for the third consecutive season. She recorded ten double-digit save performances, including a 15-save effort in the season finale victory over No. 20 San Jose State. Rycraw became the third Sun Devil, and the 15th goalie in MPSF history, to record 800+ saves in a career.
Bente Rogge joined teammate Mia Rycraw in making the Second Team, as the sophomore collects her second All-American honor. In her first two years on campus in Tempe, Rogge has made an instant impact. She earned Third Team All-American honors after a terrific freshman campaign in which she enjoyed a 30-goal campaign. Rogge was dominant on both ends in the pool during her second season, showing vast improvement in her game as she continues to develop under Coach Clapper. Rogge finished the 2018 season with 35 goals, 18 assists, and 15 steals. She demonstrated consistency right from the start of the season, scoring in each of her first four matches and 20 of 25 total matches on the season. During a 10-match period stretching from February 4th-March 10th, Rogge scored at least one goal in each match, putting together eight multi-goal performances during that time.
After being selected as an All-American in each of her first two seasons in Tempe, Alkistis Benekou found herself back in familiar territory on the All-American list as a Third Team selection. Benekou continued to climb up the Sun Devil's all-time goals scored list, finishing her final campaign in Tempe with 38 goals. The Athens, Greece native put together four consecutive 30-goal season, finishing her career with 181 goals. The 181 goals are the third most for a career in school history. Benekou never failed to reach at least 38 goals in a season during her Sun Devil career. As a freshman, she was garnered Honorable Mention All-American honors after a breakout 56-goal season.
Rounding out the honorees for Arizona State, junior Maud Koopman notched her second All-American honorable mention recognition. Koopman also received Honorable Mention distinction as a freshman in 2016, totaling 77 points (39 goals & 38 assists) and 39 steals that season. This year, Koopman tallied a career-best and team-high 42 goals while adding 18 assists. She was equally as effective on the defensive end of the pool, compiling 39 steals for the second time in her career. In just three seasons as a Sun Devil, Koopman has 122 goals scored, placing her six away from cracking the Top-10 in school history for goal scored. Koopman returns as the Sun Devils main offensive weapon, embracing an increased leadership role at Arizona State.
Stay tuned to the website and our social media accounts for updates on current and former members of the Sun Devil Water Polo program as they compete throughout the world this summer.
SUN DEVIL WATER POLO ACWPC ALL-AMERICANS (38)
2018: Mia Rycraw (Second), Bente Rogge (Second), Alkistis Benekou (Third), Maud Koopman (HM)
2017: Bente Rogge, (Third), Mia Rycraw (HM), Lena Mihailovic (HM)
2016: Ao Gao (First), Mia Rycraw (First), Abbey Kerth (HM), Maud Koopman (HM)
2015: Izabella Chiappini (Third), E.B. Keeve (HM), Alkistis Benekou (HM)
2014: Ao Gao (Second), E.B. Keeve (Third), Alkistis Benekou (HM), Petra Pardi (HM)
2013: Alicia Brightwell (Second), Ao Gao (Second), Shannon Haas (Third), E.B. Keeve (HM)
2012: Alicia Brightwell (First), Shannon Haas (Third), Mariam Salloum (HM)
2011: Sarah Harris (HM), Mariam Salloum (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2010: Sarah Harris (HM), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2009: Addison McGrath (Second), Lynlee Smith (HM)
2008: Addison McGrath (First), Caylinn Wallace (First), Kelly Phelps (HM)
2007: Addison McGrath (HM)
2006: Rowie Webster (Third)
2004: Katie Davis (HM)
HISTORY OF SUN DEVIL ALL-AMERICANS (Number of Selections)
Addison McGrath (3)
Lynlee Smith (3)
Ao Gao (3)
E.B. Keeve (3)
Alkistis Benekou (3)
Mia Rycraw (3)
Bente Rogge (2)
Maud Koopman (2)
Alicia Brightwell (2)
Sarah Harris (2)
Mariam Salloum (2)
Shannon Haas (2)
Lena Mihailovic (1)
Abbey Kerth (1)
Izabella Chiappini (1)
Petra Pardi (1)
Caylinn Wallace (1)
Kelly Phelps (1)
Rowie Webster (1)
Katie Davis (1)