VILLANOVA, Pa. — Freshman Tessa Pettit earned MAAC Rookie of the Week honors Wednesday after she netted five goals for the Villanova water polo team in her debut weekend. 

Pettit, a first year player out of Arroyo Grande, Calif., scored a hat-trick in the 'Cats 22-10 victory over Salem Jan. 23. She followed her performance against Salem with two goals against No. 22 Brown Jan. 24. 

Pettit is the first VU player to earn Rookie of the Week since now-sophomore Riley Hull on March 19, 2025. 

Villanova went 1-2 in its opening weekend of the 2026 season. The 'Cats head to the Princeton Invitational to face Santa Clara in a neutral-site game Feb. 1.