Briefs: UCI’s Dejno honored

UC Irvine outside hitter Jeremy Dejno was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week in men’s volleyball after being named Most Valuable Player at the UCSB Invitational last weekend.

Dejno, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, led then-No. 2-ranked UCI to the tournament title, beating then-No. 1-ranked BYU, then-No. 6 Long Beach State and then-No. 3 UCLA. Over three tournament matches, Dejno averaged 4.38 kills, 5.0 points, 0.46 aces and 1.23 digs per set.

After adding eight points in a season-opening victory over Cal Baptist, Dejno led the Anteaters to a 3-1 upset over BYU with a career-high 18 kills. He hit .536 against the Cougars and recorded two aces.

With UCI down, 0-2, to Long Beach State, Dejno recorded seven kills in the fourth set and had five kills without an error in six attempts in the fifth set to lift the ‘Eaters to the five-game victory. He had a career-best 23 kills and also had a career-high eight digs against the 49ers.

In the tournament final against UCLA, Dejno totaled 16 kills and hit .519.

For the week, Dejno averaged 4.06 kills, 4.75 points and 0.44 service aces per set.

UCI (4-0) moved into the No. 1 spot in the national rankings this week and will play host to No. 2-ranked BYU in MPSF action Friday and Saturday at the Bren Events Center. Both matches are at 7 p.m.

— From staff reports

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Hutten stands out

MELBOUREN, Australia — Former UC Irvine All-American Tim Hutten scored a goal in the USA men’s national water polo team’s 6-6 draw with Australia on Wednesday at the Pan Pacific Championships.

Hutten has four goals in four games for the Americans, who are 3-0-1. Anteaters alums Ryan Bailey and Jeff Powers have scored seven and three goals, respectively.

Hutten was the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Peter J. Cutino Award given annually to the top player in the NCAA.

Bailey has played on the last three U.S. Olympic teams, Powers the past two and Hutten was on the 2008 squad. The three alums each earned multiple All-American honors while competing for the ‘Eaters.

— From staff reports