Anteater

NEWPORT BEACH — It's a common assumption in Newport Beach that kids grow up with a connection to the ocean. However, many children live a 15-minute drive from the water's edge but have rarely, or never, dipped their feet in the Pacific. That's where "Day at the Bay" comes in. On Friday, 23 Santa Ana students, ages 14 to 19, from the Nicholas Academic centers spent their day at the bay. UC Irvine hosted the day, which began with a quick Back Bay lesson at the science center, then the teens took kayaks out on the water.

The UC Irvine men's golf team won the 29th Anteater Invitational by 18 shots held at El Niguel Country Club in Laguna Beach, CA on March 31, 2009.  UCI Junior John Chin was runner-up at 2-under 214 with Cal Poly's Geoff Gonzalez claiming medalist honors at 4-under 216.  The UCI winning team consisted of Freshman Michael Im (223), Senior Sean Shahi (223), Freshman Roberto Francioni (225) and Sophomore Bryan Harris (227) for their first place finish.  Coach Paul Smolinski's team returns to action April 10-11 in the Thunderbird Invitationa at ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, AZ followed by the U.S. Intercollegiate at Stanford Golf Course in Palo Alto, CA on April 18-19, 2009.

UC Irvine sophomore Mikah Maly-Karros, who averaged 31.5 points and 15.5 rebounds in two victories last week, has been named Big West Conference Player of the Week in women’s basketball. The 6-foot-1 transfer from Loyola Marymount, had a career-high 35 points and six blocked shots, and matched her career high with 17 rebounds, in the Anteaters’ 70-54 Big West win at Pacific on Wednesday. Maly-Karros, who has nine double-doubles in 14 games after being cleared to play in December, produced 28 points and 14 rebounds in a 73-65 win over conference visitor Cal State Fullerton on Saturday.

UC Irvine senior Brian Morton won in singles and doubles to lead the Anteaters to a 4-3 nonconference men's tennis win over host Furman Friday in Greenville, S.C. Morton, a Corona del Mar High product who grew up playing at Mesa Verde Tennis Club in Costa Mesa, defeated Allen Simmons, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 1 singles. Morton then teamed with senior Rye Kashiwabara to win at No.1 doubles, 8-5. Peter Surapol, Mustafa Ulukan and Olof Sjorlund also earned singles victories for the 'Eaters (4-4)

UC Irvine student-athletes have earned 2008 Winter Academic All-Big West Conference honors. The 19 Anteaters recognized are spearheaded by the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams, including men’s representatives Eddie Erazo, Blaine Fletcher, Danny Giometti, Brian Johnson, David Lefstein, Cina Moheimani, Eric Nugent, Nate Rogers and Walid Wasfy, as well as women’s team members Sarah Deyoreo, Kelly Janicki; Avi...

Former UC Irvine standout Brad Evans scored the game-winning goal, his third of the season, Saturday night to help the Columbus Crew post a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas in a MLS contest in Columbus, Ohio. Evans, a forward making his 10th start in his 18th appearance this season for the Crew, broke a 1-1 tie in the 65th minute by converting an assist from Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Evans, the all-time goal-scoring leader at UCI with 31, is in his second season with Columbus, which drafted him out of UCI after the 2006 collegiate season.

Former UC Irvine baseball player Josh Tavelli, a member of the Anteaters’ 2007 College World Series team, is one of two first-year assistant coaches on Vanguard University head man Ralph Grajeda’s coaching staff this season. Tavelli, also on UCI teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2006 and 2008, will work with hitters and infielders, while also coaching third base. Grajeda’s staff also includes newcomer Erich Pfohl, who will tutor the outfielders, coordinate recruiting and coach first base.

CoCo Goodson was named the Big West Conference Defender of the Year for the second year in a row and led five from the UC Irvine women's soccer team who earned first-team honors. The Anteaters matched last year's All-Big West team by having seven selected in 2011 as well. UCI's Cami Privett was named Big West Freshman of the Year. Goodson has scored three goals and assisted on five others. She manned the backline with fellow defender and first-team All-Big West member Sarah Devine, allowing just 18 goals in 20 matches.

CLAREMONT — The UC Irvine men’s and women’s cross country teams each won the titles at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational Saturday. UCI’s men had five runners finish in the top nine spots, led by sophomore Rex Nelson, a former Newport Harbor High standout who won the 8,000-meter race in 25 minutes, 32.37 seconds. Brett Matejka was fourth (25:45.49), Sam Hyams fifth (25:59.33), Victor Bonilla seventh (26:06.53) and Barrett Tilley ninth (26:09.69) in the 110-runner field.

LOS ANGELES - Thundering chants of U-C-I and B-Y-U perhaps might have faded under a more resonant echoes of Dy-Nas-Ty Saturday night as the UC Irvine men's volleyball team earned its second straight NCAA championship and its fourth in seven seasons. The No. 2-seeded Anteaters (25-7), who had lost their first two meetings to the top-seeded Cougars (26-5) this season, exploded for a 25-23, 25-22, 26-24 victory in the title match in front of 6,295 at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, as well as a national television audience on ESPNU.

With the possible exception of the Olympic Games, it can be argued that there is no bigger stage for a men's volleyball player than the NCAA Championship. UC Irvine (24-7), which battles BYU (26-4) in the NCAA title match on Saturday at 6 p.m. at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, is making its fourth appearance in seven seasons under what first-year Anteaters Coach David Kniffin calls "the big lights. " Remarkably, UCI has won each of its three previous trips to the championship match (2012, 2009 and 2007)

UC Irvine women's golfers Michelle Park and Luciane Lee have been selected to participate as individuals in the NCAA West Regional, May 9-11 at the Stanford Golf Course. Park, a senior, has posted four top-10 finishes this season and leads UCI with a 75.33 scoring average. Lee, a freshman, has a 76.05 scoring average. She was second at the Fresno State tournament and third at the Juli Inkster Invitational. The top eight teams and top two individuals from three total regional sites will advance to the championship finals, May 21-24 at the University of Georgia Golf Course.

UC Irvine senior Kristina Smith has been named Big West Conference Player of the Year in women's tennis. Smith, who was named first-team all-conference in singles and doubles, is UCI's first Player of the Year since 2005. She has twice been named first-team All-Big West in singles. Smith teams with junior Franziska Goettschling to earn her doubles recognition. Smith received honorable mention in all-conference doubles voting all three of her previous seasons. In addition, Marivick Mamiit is a second-team honoree in singles, while Anteaters head man Mike Edles shares Coach of the Year recognition.

LOS ANGELES - Loyola of Chicago was the first first-time participant in the four-team NCAA men's volleyball championship since UC Irvine had that distinction in 2006. A lot has obviously changed for the Anteaters since that time, as they moved within one victory of their fourth national championship with a 26-24, 25-18, 29-27 semifinal win over the upstart Ramblers on Thursday at Pauley Pavilion. No. 2-seeded UCI (24-7) looked every bit the perennial power on Thursday, hitting .500 as a team for only the second time this season and bearing down late in the first and third sets to complete their fifth sweep in their last seven matches and win their fourth straight NCAA semifinal.

Chris Austin has already made volleyball history. But that he will likely be considered less icon than iconoclast bothers him little. The first African-American setter to guide an NCAA men's title winner last year, Austin is in position to duplicate his journey from virtual volleyball oblivion to the biggest stage the collegiate game has to offer. But while he appreciates the novelty of his unlikely ascension, he is hardly conflicted about accepting credit. If one is curious about his talent, one need merely ask the 6-foot-3 UC Irvine senior.

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD Mt. SAC Relays WALNUT - Senior Sam Hyams had the top showing for UC Irvine Thursday on the first day of the 55th annual Mt. SAC Relays at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut. Hyams finished ninth in his section and 25th overall of 132 total runners in the1500 meters with a season-best time of 3:49.01. Tommy Newton-Neal recorded a time of 3:56.62, Andrew Snyder 3:57.14 and Amir Shirif 4:01.23. UCI has student-athletes competing in the Mt. SAC Relays and at the Beach Invitational (at Cerritos College)

IRVINE - First-year coach David Kniffin has said all season that his UC Irvine men's volleyball team has been searching for its identity. But maybe what it needed instead was a little attitude. Playing with a revamped lineup that did not include the team's assist leader (Daniel Stork), total blocks leader (Collin Mehring) and it's No. 2 and No. 4 kill producers (Jeremy Dejno and Connor Hughes, respectively), the Anteaters swept visiting Cal State Northridge on Tuesday to close out Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play.

IRVINE - Growing up, Kaleigh Gilchrist always was known as the two-sport star. She was a surfer, and she was a water polo player. She was great with a board and a big wave, or with a No. 15 cap on her dome in the pool. Gilchrist, the former Newport Harbor High standout, still has a passion for both sports. But right now in her life, water polo reigns supreme. The decision may not have been easy, but the USC women's water polo team is certainly reaping the benefits. Gilchrist is a junior co-captain on the top-ranked team in the country.

IRVINE - Hawaii traveled all the way to UC Irvine and all it collected through 8 1/3 innings on Friday was one hit. And it was an infield single in the first inning. The Rainbows left most of their offensive back on the islands. Andrew Thurman quieted the Rainbows' bats for most of the night, helping the Anteaters to a 4-1 win, their first victory in Big West Conference play. "It was a spectacular performance by Thurman," UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said of his junior, who struck out eight and allowed three hits and no walks in 8 2/3 innings.