Briefs: McDonnell shines

Former UC Irvine All-American Dan McDonnell had a match-high three aces to help the United States men’s volleyball team earn a 25-14, 25-10, 25-20 victory over Trinidad and Tobego in the second round of pool play late Tuesday at the Pan American Cup in Mexico City.

McDonnell’s serving helped the Americans post a 10-2 advantage in aces. McDonnell, a member of the Anteaterrs’ 2012 NCAA championship team, started at middle blocker for Team USA.

Other starters included Michael Brinkley, who will be a junior libero at UCI in the fall, and setter Ryan Ammerman, a member of the 2009 NCAA champion Anteaters.

Brinkley earned praise from Team USA Coach Shawn Patchell, once a UCI assistant, who credited him with skilled passing.

McDonnell had two kills, while Ammerman was credited with six running assists in 31 attempts.

Team USA will attempt to remain unbeaten in the tournament when it concludes pool play late Wednesday against host Mexico.

— From staff reports

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Team USA coming

Former Newport Harbor High standout Kyle Caldwell and former UC Irvine All-Americans Carson Clark and David Smith will take part in an intrasquad scrimmage for the U.S. men’s national volleyball team on Saturday at Concordia University in Irvine.

Saturday’s 7 p.m. scrimmage is the first of two, with the second being held Sept. 7 at Tustin High at 7 p.m.

The scrimmages will help the U.S. men prepare for the 2013 NORCECA Continental Championships, scheduled Sept. 21-29 in Langley Canada.

Tickets are $5 at the door and players will be available to sign autographs and take pictures following the competition.

— From staff reports

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Local duo shines

Newport Coast residents Kyle Pham and Isabella Deckey competed for Southern California in the annual Gar Glenney Cup junior team tennis tournament, which was completed Sunday at Stanford University.

Northern California won the overall competition, 39-33, but Pham helped the SoCal boys’ 12s capture the division title. Pham, 12, played at No. 2 boys’ singles, No. 1 boys’ doubles and No. 2 mixed doubles with Deckey.

The SoCal players, all from Orange County and part of the Turtle Rock Tennis team in Irvine, won sectionals at Indian Wells to qualify for the annual Gar Glenney Cup. Each team featured 12-and-under, 14-and-under and 18-and-under divisions.

— From staff reports

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UCI picked second

The UC Irvine women’s soccer team has been picked to share second place in the Big West Conference preseason coaches’ poll.

The Anteaters, who played No. 12-ranked Texas A&M; to a 0-0 tie in an exhibition game Aug. 14, received 62 points to match Long Beach State.

Cal State Fullerton, the defending champion, tops the poll with 72 points and five first-place votes.

The other four first-place votes went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (two to go with 59 points for the No. 4 spot) and one each for UCI and Long Beach State.

In addition, UCI senior Natalia Ledezma and junior midfielder Cami Privett were named to the 12-player preseason all-conference team.

Ledezma, who amassed 15 goals and 14 assists playing forward and midfield her first two seasons at UCI, started the exhibition game as a defensive left back.

Privett had five goals and six assists the last two seasons and helped UCI post a 5-1-3 conference record in 2012, good for fourth place.

UCI, coached by Scott Juniper, was the conference regular-season champion in 2011 and 2010.

— From staff reports

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Clothing drive

The Newport Harbor High baseball boosters program is having a clothing and textiles drive on Sunday at the Mariner’s Center, located on 177 Riverside Avenue in Newport Beach.

The event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will accept clothing and shoes of any kind and condition, as well as bath and kitchen towels, sheets, blankets, quilts, curtains, drapes, purses, synthetic and leather belts, throw rugs, pet beds, tablecloths and placemats.

For more information and for pick up, contact Erin Brown at erin@getitdonesports.com.

— From staff reports