LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Water Polo freshman Catherine Williamson capped a breakout season with the ultimate prize for a newcomer. The attacker was recognized by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) as the 2024 MAAC Water Polo Rookie of the Year, and also took home Second Team All-MAAC honors, the conference announced Thursday morning.

The Grahamstown, South Africa product became the second player in program history to take home MAAC Rookie of the Year honors, the first to win the award outright, and the first to do so since Caitlin Smith '08 was the Co-Rookie of the Year in 2005. She is the first Saint to take home a MAAC major award since Katie Ness '12 was named the MAAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.

Williamson led the team offensively during the 2024 season with 68 goals and 13 assists for a total of 81 points. She recorded a .531 shot percentage while drawing 39 exclusions, recording 36 steals and making ten field blocks. Williamson netted 13 hat tricks on the season, including a pair of seven-goal performances. She took home three MAAC Offensive Player of the Week and four MAAC Rookie of the Week honors to help the program to a program record 12 MAAC weekly honors this season.

Siena also placed six athletes on the MAAC All-Academic Team for the second straight year. To be eligible for the MAAC All-Academic Team, a student athlete must complete two semesters at Siena and hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a 4.0 scale. Overall, a total of 78 athletes comprised the 2023 MAAC Water Polo All-Academic Team.

Seniors Sydney Arnold and Caroline Behr were named to the All-Academic Team for the third time in their collegiate careers, while sophomores Bianca Kennerley, Audrey Lacey, Parker Thomas, and Samantha Varrie took home the nod for the first time.