Briefs: Local trio part of U.S. women’s water polo gold medal team
Former Newport Harbor High standout Kaleigh Gilchrist, Newport Beach resident Danielle Warde and Corona del Mar incoming junior Maddie Musselman were part of the U.S. women’s water polo team winning the gold medal at a second straight FINA World Cup on Sunday.
The U.S. defeated Australia, 10-6, in Russia, helping it move up to the world’s No. 1 ranking in FINA.
Australia led, 1-0, before the U.S. scored the next four goals to take control. Melissa Seidemann scored three goals for the U.S., and Courtney Mathewson and Kiley Neushul had two goals apiece.
Goalie Sami Hill made 16 saves for the U.S.
— From staff reports
—
Ross adds AVP title
Costa Mesa resident April Ross teamed with Kerri Walsh Jennings to win the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Manhattan Beach Open beach tournament on Sunday near the Manhattan Beach Pier.
Ross, a former Newport Harbor High standout, and Walsh Jennings earned their fourth title in as many AVP events this season by rallying past Costa Mesa resident Brooke Sweat and Lauren Fendick, 19-21, 21-13, 9-0 (retired), in the final.
Ross and Walsh Jennings are now 21-0 in AVP events this season and split $13,000. They topped No. 3-seeded Emily Day and Summer Ross, 22-24, 21-15, 15-8, in the semifinals on Sunday.
No. 2-seeded Sweat was forced to retire in the final after a lower-back injury worsened.
UC Irvine product Whitney Pavlik teamed wtih Heather Hughes to share ninth place and split $2,000, while Costa Mesa resident Sara Hughs, who plays beach volleyball at USC, competed in qualifying.
In the men’s event, Costa Mesa resident Brad Keenan teamed with John Mayer to finish third, falling in the semifinals to eventual runners-up Theo Brunner and Todd Rodgers, 21-15, 21-16. Keenan, who is married to April Ross, and Mayer split $6,000.
Costa Mesa resident Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson, the No. 1-seeded team, finished seventh and split $3,000.
Former Newport Harbor standout Ty Tramblie and partner Matt Prosser finished 17th to split $2,000, while UCI product Will Montgomery and partner Paul Baxter finished 17th to share $1,000.
Phil Dalhausser and former Corona del Mar resident Sean Rosenthal won the men’s event.
— From staff reports
—
Fells scores TD
Former UC Irvine men’s basketball standout Darren Fells, who is attempting to make the Phoenix Cardinals roster as a tight end, caught a touchdown pass on Sunday in the NFL team’s 30-28 preseason loss at Minnesota.
Fells, a 6-foot-7, 281 pounder who was cut during preseason last year by the Seattle Seahawks, caught a one-yard scoring toss from Drew Stanton with 6:07 left in the first half for his first professional touchdown.
Fells had two catches for 10 yards in the game. He caught one pass for 10 yards in the Cardinals’ 32-0 preseason-opening win over Houston.
He had two receptions for 22 yards in two preseason games with Seattle in 2013.
Fells, 28, was a second-team All-Big West Conference forward as a UCI senior in 2006-07. A former football and basketball star at Fullerton High, he played four seasons of professional basketball in Europe, Mexico and Argentina.
Fells’ older brother Daniel has played six NFL seasons for four teams from 2006 through 2013. Daniel Fells, also a tight end, is attempting to make the roster with the New York Giants.
— From staff reports
—
Anteaters recognized
UC Irvine women’s standouts Hillary Estrada, Michaela Pierandozzi, Annika Bergesen, and Nicole Schmidt were all named to the All-Academic team by the Assn of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.
It was the third straight year Estrada was so honored, while fellow senior Pierandozzi was a repeat honoree.
Bergesen was a senior and Schmidt was a sophomore last season for UCI, when the Anteaters finished sixth at the NCAA Tournament.
— From staff reports