UCI’s Taylor of Newport earns Big West honor

UC Irvine senior Ashling Taylor, a Newport Harbor High product, was named Big West Player of the Week in women’s water polo Thursday following her performances at San Diego State and UC San Diego.

Taylor helped UCI (11-4) to upset No. 5 San Diego State and defeat No. 18 UC San Diego. She had six goals, six steals, three assists and three earned exclusions on the week.

This is the first career honor for Taylor and is the second time a UCI player has earned Big West Player of the Week honors this season in the conference’s first year of sponsoring women’s water polo.

— From staff reports