FULLERTON, Calif. - The Western Water Polo Association announced its week three honorees of the 2026 season, naming Fresno Pacific's own Dakota Lambert as the Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday afternoon. This marked the first weekly honor in the 2025 All-Freshman Team Sunbird's career.

Lambert was a force to reckon with at the Redlands Och Tamale Invite, contributing to the Fresno Pacific women's water polo team's first wins of the season. The Clovis native was a critical piece in the Sunbirds' defensive game, limiting opponents with four steals and holding off their advances with six drawn exclusions. Her contribution undoubtedly allowed the 'Birds to have a 5.67 goals-against average over the course of the weekend.

The sophomore utility not only performed well defensively, but also contributed a surreal offensive performance all weekend long. In the opening game against tournament host, Redlands, Lambert scored twice, tallied an assist and steal, while also winning a crucial sprint. Occidental struggled to slow her down as she collected five goals to finish play on Friday, then opened the Cal State Fullerton match with two more goals. After hitting a career-high six goals in the tournament finale against LaVerne, she had officially collected 15 goals overall. Lambert currently has five multi-scoring games under her belt and will continue to show her dominance in the pool at the upcoming Sunbird Invite hosted by FPU from February 13-14 at Sanger West High School. In the WWPA, she is tied for fifth in points (24), eighth in goals-per-game (1.7), and ninth in points-per-game (2.4).

"I was proud of Dakota and how she played this past weekend," mentioned head coach Bryan Suhovy. "She was having fun and working hard. Every minute she was in she had a smile on her face, and she was full throttle the entire game. I feel she could have been offensive player of the week too with the stats she put up. A well-deserved honor for her this week."

The Sunbirds hold a record of 3-6 overall. FPU will open conference play on Tuesday, March 10 against Monterey Bay.

To view the WWPA Conference Standings & Leaderboard, CLICK HERE.

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