WOODLAND, Calif. - California men's water polo freshman attacker Alika Naone was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation/KAP7 Newcomer of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon.

Naone, a Honolulu native, had an impressive showing in the final weekend of the MPSF regular season, totaling 11 points and three steals over three matches as the No. 1 Bears went 2-1, defeating No. 2 UCLA and No. 4 USC. The attacker is the second Golden Bear to earn an MPSF honor this season, after Tommy Kennedy was named Newcomer of the Week Feb. 8.

The freshman opened the weekend with three goals and a steal in Saturday's win over No. 4 USC, recording his second hat trick of the season. He followed it up the next morning with two goals and three assists for a team-high-tying five points in an overtime win over No. 2 UCLA, while also adding two steals in the effort. In Sunday evening's loss to Stanford, he finished with one goal and one assist.

At the end of the regular season, Naone has 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists), tying sophomore Nikolaos Papanikolaou for second-most points on the team. The freshman is shooting 47.1 percent (16-for-34) and has recorded nine steals and four drawn exclusions.

Naone joined the Bears this season after graduating from Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, Calif. A member of the USA Water Polo Cadet Team and USA Water Polo Youth National Team, he earned numerous recognitions for his high school career, including 2019 Ventura County Star Player of the Year and 2019 Second Team High School All American.

STAY POSTED
For complete coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWaterPolo), Instagram (@CalMWaterPolo) and Facebook (Facebook.com/Cal-Mens-Water-Polo-Fan-Page).