College Roundup: Fernandez wins Anteater Invitational

MEN’S GOLF

Anteater Invitational

UC Irvine junior Pete Fernandez earned his first collegiate title as he claimed medalist honors in the event that concluded Tuesday at Mesa Verde Country Club.

Fernandez finished with a 54-hole total of 3-under par 210 after carding par 71 in the final round.

UCI and Sacramento State tied for second in the team competition with three-round scores of 873 as Long Beach State won the title at 869.

UCI senior Travis Russell, a Newport Harbor High product, shot a 74 Tuesday and finished seventh at 217.

Junior Bhuvan Potluri was 11th at 219 for his best collegiate finish, while senior Ryan Knapp (34th at 231), an Estancia High product, and sophomore Jacob Schulze (37th at 232) also represented the Anteaters.

Freshmen Ryan O’Connor (23rd at 224) and Bryan Shin (40th at 239) competed as individuals in the tournament.

Coach Paul Smolinski’s Anteaters return to action Feb. 17-18 in The Folino Invitational at the Industry Hills Eisenhower course.

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Riverside City College Invitational

RIVERSIDE — Orange Coast College opened its season on Monday and finished fifth overall (third among Orange Empire Conference teams) with a score of 379.

The host Tigers, topped the field at Victoria Country Club with a 361, followed by College of the Desert (367), Santiago Canyon (368), College of the Canyons (377) and the Pirates (379).

Sophomore Michael Chen, one of three returning golfers from last year’s OEC and Southern California championship team, shot an even-par 72 to lead the Pirates. Other OCC scores included Jem Young (76), Cody Kelly (77), Zach Olson (77), Zach Eddy (77) and Zach Capel (81).

OCC competes on Monday at Spring Valley Lakes for the 2014 Pnoomonia Invitational.

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Vanguard 99, Concordia 55

Taylor Belmont finished with 24 points and 12 assists for the No. 1-ranked Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference game Tuesday at the Pit.

Nicole Ballestero and Samantha Doucette added 22 points each for Vanguard (16-0, 5-0 in conference).

Concordia is 9-7, 2-3.

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MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

UCLA def. UC Irvine

LOS ANGELES — Visiting UC Irvine fell, 25-14, 25-23, 25-23, to the No. 1-ranked Bruins in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match on Monday at Pauley Pavilion.

The No.8-ranked Anteaters, led by senior Connor Hughes’ 15 kills, fell to 5-5, 2-4 in conference, while the Bruins, coached by former UCI head man John Speraw, are now 7-1, 4-0.

Scott Kevorken had six kills and hit .750 and added three blocks for UCI.

UCI hit .365 as a team and won the total blocks battle, 7.5-2.5. But UCLA had seven aces to UCI’s two, hit .420 and won the digs battle, 24-19.

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WOMEN’S WATER POLO

UC Santa Barbara tournament

SANTA BARBARA — No. 6-ranked UC Irvine defeated No. 4-ranked Arizona State, 6-4, and also topped Cal State Monterey Bay, 22-1, on Sunday at the UC Santa Barbara Winter Invite.

The 22 goals tied a school record for UCI, which had 11 players score, nine of which had multiple goals.

Against ASU, Hannah Croghan led the winners (4-0) with four goals, followed by Danielle Warde with two.

Jillian Yocum made 11 saves against the Sun Devils, while Annika Nelson had six against Monterey Bay.