June 23, 2016
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State water polo student-athletes Alyssa Diacono, Nika Sedghi, Maura Cantoni and Taylor Gums earned 2016 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All-Academic Team honors, the ACWPC announced on Tuesday. It marks the eighth straight year in which a minimum of four Aztecs garnered national all-academic accolades.
For the third consecutive season, Diacono landed on the ACWPC's Outstanding Team. To be eligible for the highest team, water polo players need a grade-point average between 4.00 and 3.71. The rising senior is the first Aztec in program history to earn three Outstanding Team appointments.
Sedghi, who just completed her eligibility, is a Superior Team member after posting a GPA in the 3.70-3.41 range. The Carlsbad native leaves Montezuma Mesa as a three-time Superior Team honoree after also being recognized in 2014 and 2015.
Cantoni and Gums, meanwhile, secured spots on the Excellent Team. Those who find themselves on this team achieved a GPA between 3.40 and 3.20. Gums completes her time at SDSU by earning three straight Excellent Team awards. For Cantoni, it is her first all-academic accolade.
The quartet helped the Aztecs enjoy a 2016 campaign that ended with their third consecutive Golden Coast regular-season title, the program's first conference tournament crown and their third NCAA Championship appearance, but first since 2008. When the dust settled, SDSU finished with an eighth-place national performance and a No. 14 ranking in the final top-25 poll.