UCI Olympians scheduled to meet fans at reception

A Welcome Home reception for 2008 Olympians with ties to UC Irvine is scheduled Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. on the lawn of the University Club on campus.

Olympians scheduled to appear include former UC Irvine water polo players and silver medalists Ryan Bailey, Tim Hutten, Jeff Powers and Rick Merlo.

Following an introduction, those in attendance will have an opportunity to meet the athletes, see their Olympic medals, obtain autographs and take photos.

UC Irvine had 10 representatives participating in six different sports in Beijing. UCI head men’s volleyball coach John Speraw and women’s volleyball assistant coach Jay Hosack were on the staff of the gold medal men’s indoor volleyball team, while UCI had connections on the men’s and women’s water polo teams that claimed silver medals.

— From staff reports