Uc Irvine

Bill Bisch was in the midst of throwing a football during a family Thanksgiving game when his legs gave out and he fell face down. The 57-year-old San Juan Capistrano resident was quickly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). "MS changed my life dramatically," he said. "Who plans on retiring at 39?" For the second year in a row, Bisch was the top fundraiser at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Walk MS event, hosted Saturday at UC Irvine. Along with his wife and sons, and members of Team Momentum, he contributed more than $30,000 to the cause.

Melissa Mead says she likes to run. She especially enjoys longer distances. She thrives on long courses. It's as if she finds extra energy when the ground converts from pavement to grass, to dirt, to hills toward the finish line. She's also no stranger to change and transformation away from running. There were dreams of being a star runner at Iona College in New York, where she received education for her initial desired interest to become a doctor. But just as the road turns during those long distances, so did her life.

UC Irvine junior Franziska Goettsching has been named Big West Conference Player of the Week in women's tennis. Goettsching earned doubles and singles wins to help UCI defeat Pacific, Wyoming and Sacramento State last week to up its record to 16-3, 5-0 in conference. She and doubles teammate Kristina Smith are ranked No. 66 in the nation in doubles and have won nine of their last 10 matches. UCI returns to action at Cal State Northridge on April 6. - From staff reports * Five 'Eaters lauded Five UC Irvine men's water polo players received 2012 All-Academic Awards from the Assn.

RIVERSIDE - UC Irvine ventured to UC Riverside for the Big West Conference baseball opener on Friday and a telethon broke out. How else to describe the spirit of giving that pervaded in the Highlanders' 4-3 victory at the Riverside Sports Complex? Both teams donated costly mistakes to the cause, with UC Riverside getting a jump on things, only to benefit in kind. Ultimately, it was two miscues by the Anteaters - one of which manifested itself in an error that marred the box score for the team that entered the game leading the nation in fielding percentage - that spelled doom for UCI. It was the 'Eaters' first loss in a conference opener since 2006.

TULSA, Okla. - The UC Irvine men's basketball team fell behind early and never recovered in falling to Oral Roberts, 76-62, in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament Second Round Monday night at Tulsa, Okla. A layup by Damen Bell-Holter with 9:53 left in the first half gave the Golden Eagles an 18-7 lead and ORU maintained a double-digit lead the remainder of the game in improving to 20-14 on the season. UCI's season ends at 21-16 as the Anteaters tied for third-most wins in school single-season history and won nine of their last 12 games of the year.

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD Spring Break Invitational IRVINE - Itos Aikhonbare won the shot put with the second best mark in UC Irvine history to lead the Anteaters on the second day of the invite at Anteater Stadium Saturday. Aikhonbare won the shot put with a personal-best throw of 50 feet, 2 inches (15.29m). The sophomore also placed fifth in the discus with a mark of 150-03 (45.81m). Kaycee Holcomb placed third in the 1,500 meters in 4 minutes, 32.12 seconds, while Samia Sailinuu was sixth at 4:36.85.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Freed-Hardeman 60, Vanguard 49 FRANKFORT, Ky. - Junior guard Nicole Ballestero scored 23 points to lead the Lions in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Championships on Saturday at the Frankfort Convention Center. Ballestero was nine for 24 form the field while carrying the offensive load, as fellow All-Golden State Athletic Conference performer Esther  Timmermans was limited to two points and four rebounds before fouling out in 31 minutes. Senior Chelsea Alfafara  had 14 points, including four-of-six shooting from three-point range for the Lions, who finish their season 25-4.

His teammates call him fossil and at age 24, in his sixth year out of high school, UC Irvine senior Daman Starring might have more life experience than all but a few college basketball players. That that experience has not always been good, has only helped forge his character and status as a leader for the Anteaters, who open Big West Conference Tournament play Thursday against Hawaii at approximately 8:30 p.m. at Honda Center. "He has strong belief in himself and strong core values as a person," UCI Coach Russell Turner said of Starring, a second-team All-Big West performer who leads the Anteaters in scoring at 13.3 points per game.

Puppy love struck UC Irvine on Tuesday as dozens of students doled out tummy rubs, receiving a few licks in return. Therapy dogs and their owners visited the university as part of a program aimed at relieving stress and jitters during final exam time. Scott Alburn, a first-year biology student, was happy to see Molly, a 6-year-old golden retriever who bears a resemblance to his own pooch in Visalia. "She acts the same way" too, Alburn said. Alburn made his way to the more than half a dozen dogs during a respite between demanding exams.

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL Pepperdine def. UC Irvine MALIBU — Senior Kevin Tillie finished with 15 kills for the No. 2-ranked Anteaters in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match that No. 4 Pepperdine won, 26-28, 25-23, 26-24, 25-20, on Tuesday. UCI fell to 16-5, 13-5 in MPSF play. Pepperdine improved to 11-6, 10-6 in conference. UCI's Connor Hughes recorded 13 kills and four total blocks. Collin Mehring had six blocks. The Anteaters are at No. 14 USC on Friday at 7 p.m. * BASEBALL Orange Coast 2, Saddleback 0 COSTA MESA — Freshman David Wilson pitched seven shutout innings and three OCC pitchers combined on the three-hit home shutout in Orange Empire Conference play on Tuesday.