Briefs: Another accolade for UCI’s Summers

UC Irvine ace Matt Summers, the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year, added another honor to his impressive season as he was was named a Baseball America third-team All-American.

Summers went undefeated in the Big West, compiling an 8-0 record and finished his year with an 11-4 mark. The right-handed pitcher helped UCI reach a NCAA Super Regional at the University of Virgina. It was UCI’s second super regional appearance. The Anteaters also have seven NCAA Tournament appearances.

Summers, who owned a 2.15 earned-run average, struck out 100 batters in 117 innings and allowed 25 earned runs on the year. He held opposing teams to a sub-.200 batting average at .195.

Summers, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Minnesota Twins, hurled the fourth no-hitter in Anteater history against Long Beach State this season. He was named the Big West Pitcher of the Week twice after dealing back-to-back complete-game shutouts and was also voted a Collegiate Baseball “Louisville Slugger” second-team All-American this year.

The Anteaters concluded the season 43-18, marking the third time UCI has reached the 40-win mark under head coach Mike Gillespie’s tenure and just the fourth time in its Division I history.

— From staff reports

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Stars might clash

ROME — Former Newport Harbor High standouts Misty May-Treanor and April Ross are on pace to meet in Friday’s quarterfinals of the FIVB World Championships.

Ross and Kessy, the defending champions who are seeded No. 3, advanced to Thursday’s Round of 32, as did May-Treanor and Ross, who are seeded No. 5 and fresh off winning the Beijing Grand Slam.

Ross and Kessy will face No. 39 seeded Heather Bansley and Elizabeth Bansley and Elizabeth Maloney of Canada Thursday morning. May-Treanor and Walsh begin the elimination rounds against No. 41-seeded Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullin of Great Britain.

On the men’s side, Matt Fuerbringer, an Estancia High alumnus, and Nick Lucena went 3-0 in pool play. Jake Gibb of Costa Mesa and Sean Rosenthal, a Corona del Mar resident, have won twice in pool play.

— From staff reports

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Duo shines in U.S. win

TIANJIN, China — Newport Harbor High alumna Anne Belden and Corona del Mar alumna Tumua Anae both contributed as the United States women’s water polo national team defeated host China, 8-5, in day two action at the FINA World League Super Final on Wednesday.

Anae made eight saves in goal and Belden scored twice for Team USA, which never trailed after the first quarter.

Team USA, which avenged three straight exhibition losses to China last week, improved to 2-0 in group play. The Americans close out group play against Greece in a match scheduled for 1:20 a.m. Pacific Standard Time Thursday.

— From staff reports

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N.B. qualifies fifth

The Newport Beach Water Polo 18-and-under boys’ team finished fifth in the Southern Pacific Zone qualification tournament over the weekend in Orange County, earning a spot in the platinum division for this summer’s Junior Olympics.

Newport, seeded seventh, won its bracket with victories over Palm Springs (17-1) and sixth-seeded Orange County Water Polo Club (9-5). After narrow losses to local all-star teams SoCal and SET, Newport took fifth with a 13-6 win over CHAWP of Chino Hills.

Team members included Newport Harbor players Koby Yakota (goalie), Dan Stevens, Andrew Silvers, Jacob Hirsch, Curtis Fink, Preston Lee, Trevor Harper, Ryan Fowler, Benton Carpenter, Samuel Edson, Trent Hayes, Miles Mendoza, Wyatt Muller, Hank Lee and Farrel South.

This was the first tournament for the newly-formed Newport Beach club, under new Newport Harbor head coach Robert Lynn and assistant Pavle Filipovic. The boys’ Junior Olympics are scheduled for July 30-Aug. 2 in Orange County.

Corona del Mar qualified 13th.

— From staff reports

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Wilkey helps HBWPC

Newport Harbor High senior Sarah Wilkey is a member of the Huntington Beach Water Polo Club 18-and-under girls’ “Blue” team, which qualified first for the Junior Olympics recently.

Wilkey, a goalie bound for UCLA, helped HBWPC go undefeated at the Southern Pacific Zone qualification tournament in the Inland Empire, which concluded June 5. HBPWC, which was seeded first, defeated Newport Water Polo Foundation and CdM Aquatics on its way to the semifinals. There, HBWPC defeated SoCal, 9-7, before topping CHAWP of Chino Hills in the final, 11-10.

The girls’ water polo Junior Olympics are Aug. 4-7 in Orange County.

— From staff reports

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Former ‘Eater shines

Whitney Pavlik, who played women’s volleyball at UC Irvine, paired with Jenny Kropp to finish second in the Corona Light Wide Open beach volleyball tournament’s women’s open final on Sunday in Siesta Key, Fla.

Pavlik and Kropp were defeated, 21-18, 17-21, 15-11, by top-seeded Lisa Rutledge and Brittany Hocheyar in the final.

— From staff reports