Sophomore Jillian Yocum (Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly HS) led UC Irvine to a critical conference-opening win over title-contending hopeful San Diego State, earning the goalkeeper Big West Women's Water Polo Player of the Week honors.

Yocum made seven saves against No. 6 Aztecs in a tightly contested 6-5 road victory Saturday.  She also had three steals to help thwart the SDSU attack and notch UCI's second victory in three meetings against the Aztecs this year.

The solid defensive effort displayed by Yocum continued at No. 17 UC San Diego one day later, as she stopped 13 Triton attempts in the 8-6 triumph.

Yocum now has 155 saves on the season and 351 for her career, placing her fourth all-time at UCI.  She needs just 14 saves from climbing into third all-time.

Others nominated:  Marisa Young (Cal State Northridge); Chelsea Parks (Long Beach State); Carmen Eggert (UC Davis)