James Black, a senior from Pasadena (Texas)...

James Black, a senior from Pasadena (Texas) High, signed a scholarship contract and national letter of intent to attend the University of San Diego beginning in the fall of 1993.

Black, preparing for his senior season, stands 6-feet-10, 230 pounds. The left-hander shot 45.6% from the field in his junior season and helped Pasadena to a 23-11 record.

VOLLEYBALL

Six-time Division III NCAA national champion UC San Diego travels to Washington University in St. Louis for the national championships beginning tonight.

This is the Tritons’ (12-18) 10th trip to the final four since the NCAA began sponsoring women’s championships in 1981. In addition to its six titles, UCSD had been runner up three times, including 1991, when host Washington defeated the top-ranked Tritons, three games to two. The last two championships have featured Washington and UCSD, with UCSD taking the title in 1990.

The Tritons won the West Regional Championship last weekend with a consecutive-games victory over Menlo College. Today they meet SUNY-Stony Brook (36-3). Top-ranked Washington (36-0) meets 12th-ranked Michigan’s Calvin College (36-7) later.

UCSD Coach Doug Dannevik has a national-best 35-4 NCAA post-season record.

HOCKEY

Two Gull games at Phoenix will be televised on the Cox and Southwestern Cable systems later this season. Norm Ulrich and Chris Ello will call the play Dec. 16 and Feb. 18. Both games begin at 6:35 p.m.

The Gulls are hoping to add more games to their television schedule and remain in negotiations with North County cable outlets to carry the games.

The Gulls (16-0-1) are off to the fastest start in International Hockey League history. They continue a three-game series against the Cleveland Lumberjacks tonight (7:05) at the Sports Arena.