SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Pepperdine swept this week’s KAP7 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Player of the Week awards, with Erik Ionescu claiming the Offensive Player of the Week honor and Hunter Danko taking Newcomer of the Week kudos for their performances in the Overnght MPSF Invitational. These are the first conference weekly awards for the Waves this season.

KAP7 WEST COAST CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – ERIK IONESCU, RJR., A – PEPPERDINE
Erik Ionescu led Pepperdine with 10 goals and 10 assists across four games at the Overnght MPSF Invitational at Stanford. He began the weekend with a three-goal effort against UC San Diego before posting three points in a win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. He followed it up with a monster nine-point game against LMU, logging four goals and five assists before a four-point effort to defeat UC Santa Barbara.

Also Nominated: Thomas Kiesling, UC Davis

KAP7 WEST COAST CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK – HUNTER DANKO, FR., UTL – PEPPERDINE
Hunter Danko totaled nine goals and two assists in four games at the Overnght MPSF Invitational. He logged multiple goals in each game, including a hat trick against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Defensively, he added two steals and two field blocks across the weekend.
 
Also nominated: Lucas Ruano, UC Davis

2026 KAP7 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Players of the Week 
September 1: Tom Leggett, Air Force
September 8: Jack Richards, Air Force
September 15: Tom Leggett, Air Force
September 22: Erik Ionescu, Pepperdine

2026 KAP7 West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Newcomers of the Week 
September 1: Lucas Wulfhorst, UC Davis
September 8: Lucas Wulfhorst, UC Davis
September 15: Wyatt Sturgeon, Air Force
September 22: Hunter Danko, Pepperdine