VALLEY AREA DIGEST : Sylmar’s Brazil Says He’ll Attend Nevada

Sylmar High’s George Brazil committed Monday to play football for Nevada next season.

Brazil, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound All-City linebacker, is the third Sylmar linebacker to commit to a Division I school. Teammates Tyrone Pierce (UCLA) and Anthony Murray (Oregon State) made commitments last week.

Brazil turned down offers from Washington State, Oregon and Hawaii and canceled a recruiting trip to Utah.

The decision was difficult, Brazil said, but the attention paid him by Nevada Coach Chris Ault on a recruiting trip two weeks ago helped make it a little easier.

“He talked to me for over an hour,” Brazil said. “He sat me down and showed me this chart. He was telling me that the first one they looked at on defense was (me). They really wanted me.”

Brazil, who will sign a letter of intent Wednesday, expects to switch from outside to inside linebacker.

Cal State Northridge volleyball and basketball player Nancy Nicholls leaves today for San Diego for a four-month tryout for the U.S. women’s national volleyball team.

“I’m pretty excited because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Nicholls said.

U.S. national team Coach Terry Liskevych saw Nicholls last week at a U.S. World University Games tryout in Colorado Springs. Nicholls did not make the team, but Liskevych came away impressed and invited Nicholls to practice for three days in San Diego last week with the national team.

Nicholls performed well and Liskevych offered her the extended tryout.

“I was shocked to have this invitation, but (Liskevych) says he sees some potential,” Nicholls said.

Nicholls, a 6-foot middle blocker for the Matadors, said she probably will be converted to a right outside hitter for the national team.

Nicholls has left the women’s basketball team, for which she averaged six minutes and 1.3 points.