Briefs: CdM’s Ritner chooses Michigan
Corona del Mar High senior goalkeeper Heidi Ritner has committed to the University of Michigan for water polo, she confirmed Tuesday night.
Ritner said she liked the coaches and the team at Michigan, as well as the academics. She also is excited to reunite with former CdM defender Sami Pratt, currently a freshman at Michigan, as well as Kim Johnson from Northern California, who Ritner knows from playing together on the U.S. youth national team.
Ritner is entering her third year as starting goalie at CdM. She is a two-time Newport-Mesa Dream Team selection. Last season, she helped CdM (23-7) win another Pacific Coast League title and advance to the Division 1 semifinals. Ritner made 230 saves on her way to first-team All-Pacific Coast League and first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 accolades.
— Matt Szabo
Fajemisin lauded
UC Irvine junior Mokun Fajemisin was named to the preseason All-Big West Conference women’s basketball team on Tuesday.
Fajemisin, a second-team all-conference performer as a sophomore forward, averaged a team-best 12.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
One of six preseason all-conference honorees, Fajemisin’s 1.69 blocks per contest lead the Big West.
UCI was picked to finish ninth in the 10-team conference by media.
Hawaii (147 points) topped the poll.
— From staff reports
UCI duo recognized
UC Irvine men’s soccer standouts Lalo Calzada and Jorge Lara have been named Big West Conference offensive and defensive player of the week, respectively.’
Calzada a senior had a pair of goals in a 5-1 win at UC Riverside Oct. 21. He had an assist in a 2-0 win at Cal State Northridge on Saturday.
Lara, a freshman, had goals in both matches.
— From staff reports
VU’s Smith honored
Vanguard University senior goalkeeper Kaycee Smith has been named Golden State Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week in women’s soccer.
Smith helped the No. 15-ranked Lions beat Biola, 2-0, and Arizona Christian, 6-0, last week. She had five saves at home against Biola on Oct. 20, and one save before exiting at halftime in Arizona on Saturday. She has one shutout and has contributed to two combined shutouts in 10 starts. She has an 0.89 goals-against average to help the Lions post an 11-4-1 record, 5-2-1 in conference.
— From staff reports
UCI libero lauded
UC Irvine sophomore libero Luna Tsujimoto has been named Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Week in women’s volleyball.
The Ohio State transfer helped the Anteaters earn conference road victories over Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside.
Against Fullerton, she tied a career high with 26 digs. She had 13 digs in Riverside on Saturday.
— From staff reports