May 6, 2003

Los Angeles, CA (May 6, 2003) -- Loyola Marymount University has named men's golfer Chaz Inouye and women's water polo goalie Rachel Riddell as the April Student-Athlete of the Month. Both in their first season at LMU put the close on outstanding freshmen campaigns.

Each month during the academic calendar, the student-athlete advisory committee (S.A.A.C.) will chose a male and female student-athlete of the month whose performance best represents the traditions of Loyola Marymount University.

Riddell, who is from West Vancouver, British Columbia, made her mark in collegiate water polo, lowering her goals against average by more than two goals the last month of the season. Riddell finished the regular season with a 3.89 GAA, the best in LMU history for a single season. Her efforts earned her first-team All-Conference honors in the Western Water Polo Association.

She helped the Lions to their third consecutive WWPA conference title with an 8-6 win over UC San Diego. During the WWPA tournament, Riddell helped the Lions to a 15-0 win over Cal State Bakersfield. It was just the second shutout in school history. Riddell has 299 saves on the season while allowing just 112 goals. Riddell and the Lions will play in their third straight NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship this weekend as they open with UCLA on Saturday in the semifinals.

Inouye finished the 2003 season on a role. The Wailuku, Hawaii, native finished the 2003 West Coast Conference Championships in third place with a one-under 215. With his rounds of 73, 70 and 72, he was named the WCC Freshman of the Year. His average round of 71.6 at the WCCs was the lowest in LMU history.

He was the best golfer down the stretch for LMU, hitting an average round of 71.5 his final two tournaments. In the month he also had the lowest round for the Lions in 2003, shooting a 67 in the second round of the Grand Canyon Thunderbird Invitational on April 7. His efforts of the year earned him first-team All-WCC honors. He is the first Lion to earn Freshman of the Year honors and just the third to earn All-WCC accolades. He is the first to earn that honor since Scott Hyen was named to the team in 2000. Inouye's third place finish was also the best since Eugene Burns tied for third with a 222 in 1998.

-GO LIONS-