Sailors remain undefeated after downing Chargers

Anne Belden registered three goals and five steals as the Newport

Harbor High girls water polo team defeated host El Toro, 12-5, Friday

in a nonleague contest.

Amanda Barto added three goals and Kally Lucas tallied four

assists for the Sailors (10-0).

Melissa Wheeler and Ashling Taylor each scored twice. Leah

Robertson and Laurel Laidlaw had one goal apiece.

Merlo on first team

* WATER POLO: UC Irvine senior driver Rick Merlo has been selected

a 2004 first team All-American by the American Water Polo Coaches

Association.

Merlo scored 62 goals for UCI this season when he was also named

first team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

Junior driver Dreason Barry was named second team All-American

this year after leading the Anteaters with 65 goals. He was a third

team All-American in 2002 before sitting out last season with an

injury. Senior two-meter defender Dan Noon was an honorable mention

to the All-American team. Noon had 38 goals this season for UCI,

which finished 16-14 overall and fourth in the final national poll.

UCLA’s Brett Ornsby was named national Player of the Year.

Crush improve to 8-1

* BASKETBALL: The Costa Mesa-based Orange County Crush defeated

host Tijuana, 127-99, in an American Basketball Association game

Thursday night, improving to 8-1 this season.

Individual team statistics were not available due to technical

difficulties.

Anteaters sweep

* VOLLEYBALL: The host UC Irvine men’s volleyball team warmed up

for its regular-season debut with a 30-20, 30-27, 30-25 exhibition

victory over the University of British Columbia Thursday night.

Junior transfer Steffin Rangel led the Anteaters with nine kills

while Brandon Mel had a match-high 11 digs. Sophomore Brian Thornton

tallied 38 set assists for UCI, which opens the regular season

hosting Cal Baptist at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

UCI’s Johnson resigns

* ADMINISTRATION: UC Irvine Assistant Athletic Director of Student

Services Khari Johnson has announced his resignation, effective Jan.

7, to pursue a career in real estate finance.