Santa Barbara City College freshman Emma Fraser was named the 2017 Western State Conference Most Valuable Player in the Women's Water Polo. Citrus College Head Coach Jennifer Spalding took home the conference's other top award, being named the Coach of the Year, in her second season at the helm.
Fraser was the leading scorer for Santa Barbara in 2017, scoring 86 goals (second in the WSC). She also proved to be a tough defender adding a team best 56 steals, to go along with 34 assists, and 13 drawn exclusions. Fraser along fellow first-teamers Sarah Parson, Megan McKillican, Halie Johnson, and Alyssa Russell-Sadoff were the driving force in a program that won their fourth consecutive WSC crown, the 2017 CCCAA Southern California Championship, and the 2017 CCCAA State Championship.
Spalding was named the Coach of the Year, after leading the Owls to arguably their best season in program history. Spalding guided Citrus to a 17-10 overall record and 7-2 mark in WSC play. The Owls would go on to be seeded #6 in CCCAA SoCal Regionals. Citrus would win it's first post-season game in two decades with a 9-7 victory over #11 San Diego Mesa College, before falling to #3 Riverside City College 10-8 in the regional quarterfinals.
