Ross, Wells on title quest

Here’s a twist to this weekly column on colleges. This week, this

article includes a mix of the college scene in regard to alumni, as

well as the local action.

We begin with former Newport Harbor High standouts April Ross and

Zach Wells. Ross and Wells have been big reasons for the postseason

success thus far of USC women’s volleyball and UCLA men’s soccer,

respectively.

Ross recorded 12 kills to lead USC to a 30-18, 30-21, 30-23 sweep

over Texas A&M; in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The

Trojans, the No. 1 seed, advance to the NCAA West Regional

semifinals, which will be played at UC Santa Barbara’s Thunderdome

Thursday and Friday. The semifinal matches will be played on Thursday

at 5 and 7 p.m. Friday’s final will start at 7 air live on ESPN2.

Wells had just one save, but provided support as the anchor of the

Bruins’ defense in helping lead UCLA to a 7-1 victory over Penn State

in the NCAA quarterfinals. The Bruins’ high-powered offense has also

made Wells’ job a bit easier. UCLA’s seven goals were a school

single-game playoff record.

The Bruins, the No. 3 seed, advance to the College Cup and will

take on second-seeded Maryland Friday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in

Dallas.

Wells has also been earning honors this season. In addition to his

second-team All-Pac 10 status, Wells also received second-team

recognition on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America

All-Far West Region Team.

Wells also earned second-team All-Pac 10 All-Academic honors. An

English major, he recorded a 3.19 GPA. Wells currently holds an 0.77

goals-against average with six shutouts.

* It looks like the UCI men’s basketball team is starting to

display chemistry and it is meeting expectations, which obviously

makes the Anteaters’ next game that much more important. Not to put

too much emphasis on it -- UCI plays at No. 17 Stanford Dec. 19 --

but the Anteaters’ trip up north could be pivotal. Their game against

Stanford could be the turning point of their season, while three days

later at Saint Mary’s could bring even more momentum. Regardless, the

games will be great for UCI’s continued quest to establish the

balance of an inside game with perimeter shooting and penetration.

* Other teams in the Big West have also experienced some battles

and triumphs thus far. Utah State suffered its first loss of the

season to host Jackson State, 63-57, Saturday night. Pepperdine,

which lost to UCI Nov. 30, defeated visiting UC Santa Barbara, 72-68.

Loyola Marymount, which lost to UCI Wednesday, defeated Cal State

Fullerton, 75-68.

* The UC Irvine men’s water polo team went 1-2 in the Mountain

Pacific Sports Federation Championship Tournament last weekend to

finish sixth. The Anteaters, who ended the season 16-11, lost to

eventual champion California, 8-4, and later lost to USC, 8-6, in the

fifth-place game.

Though the Anteaters struggled with bouts of inconsistency and

ended their season on a down note, there is hope for next season.

Dreason Barry, who scored 66 goals this season and has 81 in two

seasons with UCI, will return for the Anteaters, as will Corona del

Mar High product Garrett Gentry, who finished third on the team with

29 goals and has scored 72 in his Anteater career.

Senior Jeff Powers led UCI with 74 goals this season and ended his

Anteater career with 195.

Ted Newland completed his 37th season as head coach of the UC

Irvine program and has a career mark of 686-314-5, all at UCI.