In the three games leading into the CWPA Eastern Championship at Brown University on April 27-29, Gina-Bella Mata‘afa scored 11 goals. Photo by Ryan Baker.

SOUTH EUCLID, OHIO – Gina-Bella Mata’afa earned the Notre Dame College Falcons’ first Collegiate Water Polo Association Varsity Western Division honor in program history after her selection of “Rookie of the Week” for April 23.

The freshman from Lahaina has 29 goals – third among the Falcons’ leading scorers – in their inaugural season as a member of the CWPA.

She posted a hat trick within two minutes during the third quarter to keep the Falcons on pace with Mercyhurst on April 21.

Notre Dame is the only varsity collegiate water polo program in the State of Ohio competing in the Western Division along with NCAA Division I opponents No. 10 Michigan, No. 12 Indiana, No. 14 Maryland and No. 17 Hartwick.

Mata’afa graduated from Lahainaluna High School last year.

At LHS, Mata’afa earned All-Maui Interscholastic League “Player of the Year” honors in 2011 for breaking the league’s single season scoring record with 70 markers.