September 16, 2007

UC Irvine contacts UCR's Smith about top baseball job

The Press-Enterprise

UC Riverside baseball coach Doug Smith has been contacted by UC Irvine regarding the Anteaters' open coaching position.

Smith said Friday afternoon that no formal interview has been arranged with UCI, but that he "would discuss the position with them if they called."

Smith, a former player for the Highlanders, has been with the UCR program for nearly three decades, spending 25 years as an assistant and the past three as head coach. He led the Highlanders to their first Big West title and second NCAA appearance last season.

The Anteaters have been searching for a head coach since Dave Serrano left to become the new head coach at Cal State Fullerton.

Candidates for the Irvine job reportedly include former USC coach Mike Gillespie, former Tennessee coach Rod Delmonico and former Titans assistant Rick Vanderhook.

UC Irvine reached the College World Series last spring.

ALLAN STEELE

Women's Volleyball

UCR in Lamar University Tournament - - Angie Michell finished the day with 29 kills to help lift UC Riverside to 3-1 victories over both Jackson State and Texas Southern on Friday in the Lamar University Tournament in Beaumont, Texas.

Mitchell had 18 kills with a .353 hitting percentage and Kimberly McNeal had 16 digs to lead the Highlanders (4-5) past Jackson State, 30-26, 25-30, 30-20, 30-22, in the morning match.

In the afternoon, Amy Read had 15 kills with a .393 hitting percentage to lead UCR past Texas Southern, 26-30, 30-5, 30-21, 30-17.

The second-game score of 30-5 is the biggest margin of victory in Highlanders history. The previous record was a 30-7 victory set in 2001.

Jackson State dropped to 3-4 and Texas Southern fell to 1-9.

UCR will face Tennessee-Chattanooga this morning. and host Lamar at night.

CSUSB d. Humboldt State - - Jessica Granados tallied 14 kills with a .345 hitting percentage and eight digs to lead No. 1 Cal State San Bernardino past Humboldt State, 30-26, 30-19, 30-21, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association match.

Women's Water Polo

RCC wins two - - The Tigers improved to 8-0, defeating San Diego Mesa, 15-2, and American River, 13-9, on the first day of the Chaffey Tournament.

Melissa DeJonckheere led the Tigers with seven goals on the day and Tania Acevedo added five.

Men's Soccer

San Jose State 3, UCR 0 - - Ricky Dorrego scored on a give-and-go in the 24th minute to open scoring as the Spartans went on to defeat the Highlanders in a non-conference game.

Andrew Villalobos had three shots on goal to lead the attack for UC Riverside (3-2).

San Jose State improved to 3-1.

Women's Soccer

UCR 2, Eastern Michigan 0 - - Redshirt freshman Kristina Kelly opened scoring in the 26th minute after a series of quick passes and the Highlanders outshot the visiting Eagles 17-4 in a non-conference game.

Junior Loana Holness got a loose ball at midfield and beat the goalkeeper one-on-one in the second half for UC Riverside (3-2) to cap scoring.

Eastern Michigan dropped to 2-2.

MSJC 2, East LA 1 - - Angelica Carpenter and Kimberly Perez scored for Mt. San Jacinto as the Eagles (6-1-1) defeated East Los Angeles in a non-conference match.