University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Steele Named MPSF Tournament MVP, Palmer All-Tournament
April 30, 2024 | Women's Water Polo
LOS ANGELES --ย UCLA freshman goalkeeper Lauren Steele (Old Greenwich, Conn./Orange Lutheran HS) was named the MPSF Tournament MVP as announced by the league office today.
Additionally, Steele and graduate student attacker Hannah Palmer (Irvine, Calif./Orange Lutheran HS) were both named to the 2024 MPSF All-Tournament Team (a school can only have a maximum number of two on the All-Tournament).
Steele accumulated 31 saves through two wins to help the Bruins winย their first MPSF Championship since 2017. She hauled in 17 saves while giving up just three goals for an incredible .850 percentage against No. 4 seed USC in the semifinal. Steele then collected 14 saves (.609) and one steal in the championship game vs. No. 2 seed Cal. Steele represents UCLA's seventh MPSF Tournament MVP award (Rachel Fattal-2017, Caitlin Dement-2012 & 2010, Courtney Mathewson-2008, Kelly Rulon-2007, andย Natalie Golda-2005).
Palmer led the Bruins in scoring with nine total points (seven goals and two assists) in the two tournament wins. She opened with a season-high and career-high-tying five goals (on six shots) against the Trojans and then scored four points (two goals and two assists) against the Golden Bears. Palmer also added one steal, one field block, and won her only sprint against California and also registered one field block against USC.
The Bruins are 23-0 on the year and will open the NCAA Championship as the No. 1 seed against the winner of Biola/Wagner on Friday, May 10 at 12:00 p.m. PT at Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley, Calif.
