Senior attacker Taylor Smith has been named the UCLA Student-Athlete of the Week for her performance during athletic competitions held from January 27 to February 2. Smith led the UCLA Bruins Women’s Water Polo team with 16 points, consisting of 15 goals and one assist, as the team won the Triton Invitational Championship.
Smith started the tournament with a hat trick against Cal State Fullerton. She then scored a career-high six goals in a victory over sixth-ranked Arizona State. In the semifinal against fifth-ranked Hawai’i, she added one goal, and in the championship game, she contributed five goals in an upset win over second-ranked USC. Over the weekend, Smith also recorded three steals, one assist, one field block, and won five out of six sprints.
This is Smith’s first time receiving the UCLA Student-Athlete of the Week award.
Other athletes nominated for this week’s honor included Lauren Betts (women’s basketball), Jordan Chiles (gymnastics), Mayu Crossley (women’s tennis), Donovan Dent (men’s basketball), Jack Falkowski (men’s indoor track & field), Baylor Larrabee (men’s golf), Andrew Rowan (men’s volleyball), and Emon van Loben Sels (men’s tennis).
The list of previous winners includes student-athletes from sports such as soccer, water polo, volleyball, football, basketball, gymnastics, and tennis.
