California women's water polo freshman Despoina Drakotou has collected her first career award as a Golden Bears with today's selection as the MPSF Newcomer of the Week.

Drakotou scored seven goals in her first weekend of work with Cal. She had a hat trick in her collegiate debut along with two steals to help the Bears beat No. 15 Michigan 23-18, then scored twice and tallied four steals and a field block as Cal upset No. 4 Hawai'i 14-9. Against No. 8 UC Irvine, Drakotou scored two more with an assist, steal and field block as Cal improved to 3-0 with a 16-9 victory over the Anteaters. She was one of three Bears to record three multiple-goal games at the event.

Drakotou and the Bears now turn to host competition at the Brigitte Donner Daws Memorial Invitational, running January 24-25 at Spieker Aquatics Complex.