CSC Release

IRVINE, Calif.-- Women's water polo players Erin Tharp, Jensine Bugelli, and Gabby Norris were selected to the 2023 Academic All-District® Women's At-Large Team by College Sports Communicators.

The award recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the athletic realm and in the classroom. Student-athletes needed a cumulative GPA over 3.50, have played at least one full season at the institution, and played the minimum number of games to be honored. Graduate students competing at a school where they did not receive their undergraduate degree are eligible within their first semester and must average a 3.50 cumulative GPA in both their undergraduate and graduate studies. The At-Large category includes the sports of water polo, fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, volleyball, and wrestling.

Erin Tharp, the graduate student goalkeeper and marine conservation and restoration science major, went 11-3 in the cage and recorded double figure saves in five games in her first year as an Anteater. Tharp was named to the First Team All-Big West and earned the Big West Championship MVP honors.

Jensine Bugelli, the criminology, law, and society major, recorded a career-best 14 goals in 2023 with her lone hat-trick coming in the Big West Championship record setting 18-5 victory over Cal State Fullerton in the quarterfinals. The senior academic weapon landed a spot on the 2023 Winter Deans list, was on the Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll with Highest Honors in 2022, is a Big West All-Academic Team Member (2021, 2022), and three time ACWPC All-Academic Team recipient (2020, 2021, 2022).

Gabby Norris is enjoying an impressive second season as an Anteater as she scored a career-best four goals versus Whittier on Feb. 11. The business administration major had four mutli-goal games on the season and double the number of goals scored from her freshman campaign.

UCI won both the regular season title and defended their Big West Championship crown for their eighth NCAA tournament appearance. Voting for Academic All-Americans begins later this month to be announced on June 22.