Briefs: Grayson, Truxton selected all-stars
EDITOR’S NOTE: This corrects that Chase Wilson finished third at the Assn. of Surfing Professionals Hurley Rob Machado Pro.
Newport Harbor High safety Kellon Truxton and Costa Mesa cornerback DaSean Grayson were the only two Newport-Mesa seniors to earn roster spots for the 52nd Brea Lions Orange County North-South Prep Football All-Star Game on July 15 at Orange Coast College.
Truxton and Grayson, both Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team selections, will play for the South.
Truxton helped the Sailors finish in third in the Sunset League and reach the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division playoffs for the second straight season. He was a first-team All-Sunset League pick.
Grayson, a first-team All-Orange Coast League honoree, was one of the top cover corners in the area. He made 75 tackles.
— From staff reports
Two Sailors commit
Newport Harbor High girls’ volleyball players Maddy Brown and Lauren Demos have committed to play for TCU and UC San Diego, respectively, Sailors Coach Dan Glenn announced.
Brown was a Daily Pilot Dream Team selection this past fall as a senior. The outside hitter had a team-high 378 kills for the Sailors (22-13), who were second in the Sunset League and advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA quarterfinals.
Brown, a first-team all-league selection, will join former Newport Harbor standout Megan Munce at TCU. Munce will be a senior setter for the Horned Frogs, coached by Corona del Mar High product Prentice Lewis (formerly Perkins). CdM senior setter Megan Griffin is also headed to TCU.
“[Munce] was a senior when I was freshman at Newport,” Brown said. “I didn’t really know her then, but I was with her a lot on my visit and I’m really excited to play with her.”
Demos, a middle blocker, was a second-team All-Sunset League selection for the Tars. She said the location and academics of UC San Diego were perfect, and that she looked forward to playing for a coach like Ricci Luyties.
Luyties, who will be entering his second year as UCSD head coach, was a four-time national champion as setter at UCLA and was a member of the U.S. national team from 1981 through 1988. He also starred on the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals beach tour.
— From staff reports
Three locals lauded
Three players with local ties were named second-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in men’s volleyball.
Seniors Phil Bannan (UC San Diego) and Scott Slaughter (UC Santa Barbara), are former Corona del Mar High standouts honored.
Newport Harbor High product Weston Dunlap, a senior at UCLA, was the third local honoree.
Bannan finished his career atop the UCSD list in assists (4,399) and aces (110), is tied for third in blocks (277) and is No. 5 in career digs (522). He averaged 9.84 assists and 1.53 points per game this season and his 0.51 aces per set ranked second nationally at the end of the regular season.
“Phil has been, if not the best, one of the best we’ve ever had in our program,” UCSD Coach Kevin Ring said of the 6-foot-3 setter.
Bannan received honorable mention in all-conference voting in 2010 and 2009.
Slaughter, a 6-7 middle blocker, led the conference with a .505 hitting percentage while pounding 200 regular-season kills. He also led the Gauchos in the regular season with 86 blocks. He received honorable mention as a junior and a sophomore.
Slaughter helped UCSB upset No.2-ranked BYU in the MPSF Tournament quarterfinals Saturday.
Dunlap, a 6-9 middle, ranked second on the Bruins with 270 kills and 2.60 points per set during the regular season.
His 90 regular-season blocks led the team, as did hit .451 hitting percentage, which ranked third in the MPSF.
UCLA fell to top-ranked and No. 1-seeded USC in the MPSF quarterfinals.
— From staff reports
Wilson is third
Newport Beach resident Chase Wilson finished third at the Assn. of Surfing Professionals Hurley Rob Machado Pro contested Saturday at Seaside Reef in Cardiff.
Wilson, a graduate of Newport Harbor High who is now attending UC Santa Barbara, earned $1,600 in one of the largest world junior events in North America. The four-star event featured surfers from around the world.
— From staff reports