Dukes Earns Fourth CWPA Weekly Award; Frager Named Rookie of the Week

Ariel Dukes has won four CWPA honors in the last month (photo Gil Talbot).

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Ariel Dukes and Victoria Frager, both freshmen on the Harvard women's water polo team, earned awards from the College Water Polo Association, the league announced. Dukes was honored as the Southern Division Defensive Player of the Week, while Frager took home Southern Division Rookie of the Week honors.

It is the fourth weekly award for Dukes and the second for Frager in their first year in Cambridge.

Dukes made 18 saves in two CWPA Southern Division wins March 31 to earn the award. The Winter Park, Fla., native made 7 stops in a 10-4 win over Mercyhurst and contributed 11 blocks during the Crimson's 18-12 victory against George Washington. The 11 saves marked the sixth time this season Dukes has tallied 10 or more blocks.

This is Dukes' third defensive player of the week award and she was also selected the division's rookie of the week once. All four honors have come in the last month for the freshman.

Frager scored a goal in each of Harvard's wins March 31 to be awarded the league's best rookie for the week. Frager also added an assist and four steals in the Crimson's 10-4 victory over Mercyhurst. The La Jolla, Calif., native added a goal in Harvard's best offensive showing of the year, an 18-12 win against George Washington. 

This is Frager's second rookie of the week selection, as she was previously chosen Southern Division Rookie of the Week Feb. 7.

Harvard continues its regular season April 10 in the home finale against Hartwick. The contest is slated for a 7 p.m. start.