‘Eaters picked fourth

UC Irvine has been picked to finish fourth in the Big West Conference women’s volleyball preseason coaches’ poll.

The Anteaters earned 47 points from nine coaches who voted, ranking behind Hawaii (81 and all nine first-place votes), Long Beach State (68) and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (66).

UC Davis (44), UC Santa Barbara (39), Cal State Northridge (29), UC Rivrside (20) and Cal State Fullerton (11) round out the poll.

UCI tied for fifth in 2015 with a 7-9 mark. The Anteaters were 13-15 overall, including an upset of No. 21-ranked San Diego last year.

The Anteaters, who return nine players from the 2015 squad, open the season at the USC Baden Invitational Aug. 26-27 at the Galen Center.

First-team All-Big West selection Harlee Kekauoha, a 6-foot sophomore opposite this season, tops the list of returnees for UCI.

— From staff reports

— From staff reports

Sapp victorious

Former UC Irvine golfer Garrett Sapp won the title at the Long Beach Open, completed July 31, earning the championship after a one-hole playoff.

Sapp fired a seven-under-par 65 in the final round at El Dorado Parks Golf Course to finish with a four-round total of 18-under 270 (66-70-69-65) with play also conducted at Skylinks Golf Course.

He defeated David Gazzolo and Sam Saunders in the playoff that began and ended on the par-five 18th hole at El Dorado Park. Sapp recorded a birdie, Gazzolo a par and Saunders a bogey.

Sapp, who played at UCI for two years (2004-06), received the winner’s check of $31,000.

He was a first-team All-Big West Conference selection both of his seasons at UCI. Sapp competed individually in the 2005 NCAA West Regional at the Stanford University Golf Course.

In his two seasons with the ‘Eaters, he registered eight top-10 finishes and five top-20 showings.

— From staff reports

— From staff reports