Oden Joins Notre Dame Volleyball Staff

Elaina Oden, a two-time All-American volleyball player from Irvine High, has been named an assistant women’s volleyball coach at Notre Dame, Coach Debbie Brown announced Wednesday.

Oden, who was a member of two NCAA championship teams at Pacific, has been a member of the U.S. national team program since 1986. She participated in the 1992 and ’96 Olympic Games and the 1995 World Grand Prix, where the U.S. team won a gold medal.

Oden, 30, has spent the last two years as head coach of the Orange County Volleyball Club’s 18-and-under team. She led Irvine to the 1981 and ’84 Southern Section Division 4-A titles and was state Division 4-A player of the year in 1984.

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The Piranhas signed receiver Cristin McLemore, who played at Marina High and Oregon. McLemore is Oregon’s career leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.

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Chad Johnson from El Toro has orally committed to play football at Iowa, said his father, Fred.

Johnson, a Times all-county second-team kicker, had 31 career field goals, second-best in county history. He was the Sea View League’s first-team kicker the last two seasons.

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Holly Pawlowski from Cypress College has signed to play basketball at Biola, Cypress officials announced.

Pawlowski, a center from Pacifica High, was a first-team All-Orange Empire Conference selection last season. She averaged 14.2 points and 8.1 rebounds for Cypress.

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Gabi Rios, a tennis player at Saddleback College, has signed to attend Cal Poly Pomona, Saddleback officials said.

Rios, who played at El Paso (Texas) High, was the Gauchos’ No. 1 singles player and on their No. 1 doubles team the last two seasons. She was an All-Orange Empire Conference selection last season.

Rios reached the conference singles final last season, losing to Orange Coast’s Carni Erickson.

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Crystal Hogan, a guard, and Jackie Moore, a center, have signed letters of intent with the Long Beach State women’s basketball program.

Hogan, who attends Compton College, averaged 29 points last season. Moore averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots for Long Beach Poly High.

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Saddleback’s Jesse McDonald, men’s discus champion in the Orange Empire Conference this past season, has signed with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Gaucho track and field Coach John Klink said.

McDonald, from Laguna Hills High, placed third at the state meet. His best toss this season was 168 feet 6 inches. He also threw the javelin and put the shot.

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Cal Lutheran designated hitter Brad Smith, a former player at Marina High and Golden West College, was named first-team All-West Region in NCAA Division III baseball. Smith batted .396 with 55 runs batted in this season.

Ean White, a freshman catcher at Whittier College who played at Villa Park High, and Redlands outfielder Russell Williams, from Westminster, were named to the second team. White batted .416 for the Poets, finishing fifth in the nation in doubles with 21.

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Hawaii Pacific softball pitcher Susie Schoales of Buena Park was named first-team NAIA All-American. Schoales played high school softball at Cerritos Valley Christian.

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Ara Petrosian, a junior right-handed relief pitcher from Long Beach State, has been named a first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball.

Petrosian, formerly of Fountain Valley High and Cypress College, accumulated 15 saves to lead the nation. In his 34 appearances this season, Petrosian has pitched 71 1/3 innings, with 75 strikeouts and 28 walks. His save total is the second best in Long Beach State history for a single season.

Long Beach State plays against Oklahoma today in the first round of the NCAA baseball tournament, the South I Regional at Baton Rouge, La.

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Lisa Simpson, a senior third baseman at Chapman, was named to the GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII college division softball team. Simpson, a graduate of Dana Hills High who lives in Laguna Niguel, is a psychology major with a 3.42 grade-point average.

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Running backs James Farley of Mater Dei and Ray Ohrel of Newport Harbor have been added to the South team for the 38th Orange County North-South Prep All-Star football game July 11 at Orange Coast College.

Also added to the South roster are wide receiver George Sumner from Corona del Mar and offensive guard Corey Fross from Aliso Niguel.

Dropped from the roster are Aliso Niguel running back Scott Nemeth (shoulder injury), Mater Dei wide receiver David Castleton (shoulder injury), Los Amigos offensive lineman Jim Vreeke, Capistrano Valley linebacker Charlie Landrigan and El Toro linebacker Matt Steinau.

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The top-seeded team of Mark Kaplan and Bruce Man Song Hing will defend its men’s open doubles championship in the 36th Adoption Guild tennis tournament, which begins Saturday.

Competition will be at the Balboa Bay Racquet Club, Newport Beach Tennis Club, the Palisades Club and the Racquet Club of Irvine. Finals will be June 1 at the Newport Beach Tennis Club.

For information, call (714) 675-0633.