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Michigan's Julie Hyrne Named April 27 Western Division Player of the Week
BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Two-meter Julie Hyrne (Sr., Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) of the University of Michigan registered six goals, including game-winners in the semfinals and championship game, with an assist, two steals and eight kick-outs drawn to earn the April 27 Western Division Player of the Week award for leading the No. 12-ranked Wolverines to the 2009 Eastern Championship.
Versus Princeton University in a 12-7 opening round victory, she tallied a goal, a steal and two kick-outs drawn. She added two goals, including the game-winner with 1:58 to play, against No. 20 University of Maryland in a 9-8 semifinal victory to advance Michigan to the Eastern title game for the fourth time in five years.
Against No. 14-ranked Hartwick College for the league championship and an automatic berth at the 2009 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship, she dominated the game recording a hat-trick, including the game-winner, a steal and four kick-outs drawn as the Wolverines captured their second consecutive Eastern Championship with a 12-6 win.
The victory marked the
25-consecutive game Michigan has won this year as the Wolverines
joined Hartwick (2006-07), University of Massachusetts (1998-99)
and Slippery Rock University (1988-96) as the only teams in league
history to win back-to-back titles as the Wolverines defeated
Hartwick last year at home in Ann Arbor 10-7 for the 2008
championship.
Overall, the title marks the fourth in program history as Maize
and Blue previously captured the 2002 (7-6 W OT vs. Hartwick), 2005
(8-7 W vs. Indiana) and 2008 crowns. Further, it marks the first
time a second seed has won the league title since the 2005
Wolverines which knocked off host and No. 1 seed Indiana four years
ago for the program's second Eastern title.
For her performance, she was named to the All-Tournament first team and finsihed second in the balloting for Tournament Most Valuable Player.
A 2008 American Water Polo Coaches
Association (AWPCA) All-America third team selection, the award
marks Hyrne's fifth nod this year as she was previously honored on
February 16, March 2 and April 20 individually, and on April 13
with teammate Keller Felt (So., La Jolla, Calif./La
Jolla) as co-Players of the Week.
The 2008 and 2009 Western Division Player of the Year, and the
2008 Eastern Championship Most Valuable Player, Hyrne and the
Wolverines will continue the season next weekend at the University
of Maryland for the 2009 NCAA Championship.
