UC IRVINE NOTES : UCLA-Irvine Tennis Match Might Not Be Rescheduled

UC Irvine men’s tennis Coach Greg Patton said Friday he did not know if the Anteaters’ key match at UCLA would be rescheduled.

The match, crucial to the Anteaters’ chances for earning a berth in the NCAA playoffs, was originally scheduled for Friday, but was postponed when UCLA canceled classes in the wake of the violence in and around Los Angeles.

Irvine, which won its ninth Big West Conference championship in 13 seasons last week at Ojai, plays Sunday at Texas in Austin.

NCAA tournament bids will be announced May 10. The tournament is May 15-24 at Athens, Ga.

“I thought we had two shots (at impressing members of the NCAA selection committee),” Patton said. “Obviously, I’m disappointed we’re not playing UCLA, but I’m sure my frustration is minimal compared to residents (in Los Angeles).”

The UC Irvine women’s basketball team signed two players Friday, Coach Colleen Matsuhara said.

The Anteaters signed Shannon James, a 5-foot-7 guard from Rancho Alamitos High, and Cara Nielsen, a 6-foot forward from Gridley, Calif.

James, who averaged 17.1 points and 6.8 assists, was named the Garden Grove League’s most valuable player and led Rancho Alamitos to the Southern Section Division III-A championship.

Nielsen averaged 26 points and nine rebounds, leading Gridley High to the Northern Section Division V championship.