Photo courtesy of Harvard Athletic Communications.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard women's water polo team placed 10 student-athletes on the 2011 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) scholar-athlete team.

The Crimson team ranked second among CWPA teams with a 3.34 GPA, trailing only Connecticut College (3.52). George Washington and Maryland, opponents of Harvard in the CWPA Southern division, also placed in the top 10.

Riley Kessler garnered “outstanding” honors by finishing with a GPA between 3.71-4.00. Only 19 student-athletes in the country received such a distinction from the CWPA. Kessler had seven goals, six assists and nine steals during her freshman season.

Elise Molnar, Christy DiSilvestro, Shami Entetnman '11 and Patricia Smith '11 were among 46 student-athletes named “superior” (3.41-3.70) while Aisha Price, Devan Kennifer, Lizzie Abbott, Shayna Price and Monica Zdrojewski were honored as “excellent” (3.20-3.40) along with 28 others. Kennifer, a two-time All-American, Zdrojewski and Aisha Price were the top-three goal scorers for the Crimson in 2011.

The Crimson finished the 2011 season with a 17-15 record and 2-3 against Ivy competition. They were 2-2, with wins over Gannon and Bucknell, at the CWPA Eastern championship in Bloomington, Ind., to place fifth.

Click here for the full list of CWPA scholar-athletes.