2025 Polo bench

Women's Water Polo

2025 Water Polo Season in Review

LEXINGTON, Va. – The 2025 VMI Water Polo Season was a successful one, with the program earning the most wins in five years under the guidance of fifth-year head coach Danielle Montenegro.

Individually, a number of players stood out but none more than Courtney Novotny, who earned the Three-Legged Stool and the Cincinnati Medal while finishing her career second in goals scored. Additionally, Sarah Fitzsimmons was the team's all-around stats leader. Take a look at some of the season highlights below!

2025 Highlights
- Nine wins were the most since 2020 and most in Head Coach Danielle Montenegro's tenure
- Goals scored (323) were fourth-most in program history; 12.7 goals per game ranks fourth all-time
- Senior Courtney Novotny earned the Three-Legged Stool Award, the SoCon Postgraduate Scholarship Award and the Cincinnati Medal
- Novotny ended her career second all-time in goals scored with 210 and her 130 steals rank third in program history
- Maddie Day, Sarah Fitzsimmons, Courtney Novotny, Meagan Riding, Sadie Smith and Julia Ward all named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic Team (3.20 or higher)
- Fitzsimmons is VMI's all-around stats leader with 166 points (52 goals, 34 assists, 31 steals, 41 drawn exclusions and 8 field blocks)
- Sydney Smith led team in goals (64) and drawn exclusions (51), Sadie Smith led team with 41 assists
- Day paced Keydets in blocks (132) while Novotny led squad in steals (38) and field blocks (21)

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Players Mentioned

Maddie Day

#1 Maddie Day

G
5' 6"
Sophomore
Sarah Fitzsimmons

#2 Sarah Fitzsimmons

CD/U
5' 11"
Sophomore
Courtney Novotny

#4 Courtney Novotny

A
Senior
Meagan  Riding

#5 Meagan Riding

A
5' 4"
Sophomore
Sadie Smith

#11 Sadie Smith

CD/U
Junior
Sydney Smith

#3 Sydney Smith

A
Junior
Julia Ward

#17 Julia Ward

Driver
Junior

Players Mentioned

Maddie Day

#1 Maddie Day

5' 6"
Sophomore
G
Sarah Fitzsimmons

#2 Sarah Fitzsimmons

5' 11"
Sophomore
CD/U
Courtney Novotny

#4 Courtney Novotny

Senior
A
Meagan  Riding

#5 Meagan Riding

5' 4"
Sophomore
A
Sadie Smith

#11 Sadie Smith

Junior
CD/U
Sydney Smith

#3 Sydney Smith

Junior
A
Julia Ward

#17 Julia Ward

Junior
Driver