BRIEFS:Osborn dismissed

Freshman guard Chris Osborn has been dismissed from the UC Irvine men’s basketball team for “conduct detrimental to the team,” according to Coach Pat Douglass and a release from UCI.

The 6-foot-7 Osborn played in five of the season’s first six games, averaging 2.0 points and 0.8 rebounds. He scored a high of seven points in UCI’s 53-41 win over Winston-Salem State Nov. 11.

Osborn attended the Air Force Academy Prep School last year.

UCI, 2-4 on the season, hosts Pepperdine (1-4) tonight at 7.

DEPAUL RECEIVES HONOR

Freshman Lyndsay DePaul was named Big West Athlete of the Week following her performance in her first collegiate meet at the UCI/Speedo Cup at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

DePaul won all three of her solo events on her way to being named Female Athlete of the Meet. DePaul broke three Anteater records in the 200 individual medley (2:02.32), 400 IM (4:18.38) and the 200 butterfly (2:00.51). DePaul also had a time of 2:03.64 in the 200 backstroke and was the leadoff in the 200 free relay that finished in 1:51.27.

UCI MEN TOP POLL

UC Irvine topped the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s volleyball preseason coaches’ poll with seven first-place votes, earning the top overall ranking.

Brigham Young garnered three first-place votes and was second in the coaches poll. Hawaii, Pepperdine and UCLA were tied for third, each generating one first-place vote.

UCI finished the 2006 season as the MPSF regular-season champion and advanced to the NCAA men’s volleyball championship, where the Anteaters lost to host Penn State in five games in a semifinal match. The Anteaters return all but one starter from last year’s team, which went 27-5 overall and ended the year ranked No. 2 nationally.

National and MPSF Player of the Year, Jayson Jablonsky, returns to lead Coach John Speraw’s veteran crew. The 6-foot-5 outside hitter earned NCAA All-Tournament team honors a year ago.

All-Americans Brian Thornton, Matt Webber and Brent Asuka also return for UC Irvine, while middle blockers David Smith and Aaron Harrell also return.

UCI opens the 2007 season at Cal Baptist on Jan. 3.

UCI’S ERICKSON ON LIST

UC Irvine senior Blair Erickson has been named to the 2007 Wallace Watch list, announced the College Baseball Federation in Lubbock, Texas.

The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year. The list is comprised of 148 student-athletes, which will be paired down to 12 semi-finalists by late May. That list will be further trimmed to three finalists following the NCAA Super Regionals. The presentation of the Brooks Wallace Award will be televised by Fox Sports Network and Fox College Sports.

Erickson, a right-handed pitcher, is UC Irvine’s all-time saves leader with 40 and sixth among the NCAA career leaders.

The 6-1 standout was undefeated on the mound last season at 5-0 and ranked 13th in the country with 13 saves. Erickson struck out 57 batters in 52 1/3 innings of work and posted an ERA of 2.06. Over three seasons, Erickson has fanned 160 batters in 124 2/3 innings pitched and has made 87 appearances.

He enters the season with a lifetime ERA of 2.60 and a 7-5 win-loss record.

UC Irvine opens the season with a three-game series at Cal Feb. 2-4.

UCI SIGNS KWAN

The UC Irvine women’s tennis team has received a national letter of intent from Rebecca Kwan of San Diego to attend and compete in women’s tennis at UCI, Coach Mike Edles said.

Kwan, a senior at Torrey Pines High in San Diego, won the 16s Southern California Section singles championship in 2005. She was CIF San Diego Section singles champion in 2005 and was CIF San Diego Section doubles champion with her sister Jessica in 2006. She was the No. 1 singles player on the CIF champion Torrey Pines 2005 and 2006 teams.