Freudenberg Commits to Bruins

El Modena senior Brandi Freudenberg, twice named The Times girls’ tennis player of the year, has orally committed to UCLA and is expected to sign a letter of intent with the school Monday or Tuesday.

Wednesday was the first day of the early signing period, which runs through Nov. 16. Freudenberg and many of the county’s top athletes are expected to sign during the one-week period.

Freudenberg chose UCLA over Arizona, San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara, Fresno State and Pacific.

Last week, she won the Century League singles championship for the third time in four years, beating defending champion Faye DeVera of Villa Park.

*

Tustin guard Doug Gottlieb and Mark Seaton, a Servite forward, have signed letters of intent with Division I basketball programs.

Gottlieb signed a letter of intent with Notre Dame, Tiller basketball Coach Andy Ground said Wednesday.

Seaton said Wednesday that he had signed with Stanford. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 12 points and eight rebounds for the Friars last season.

Gottlieb and Seaton are two of six Orange County boys’ basketball players expected to sign this week.

The other four are Mater Dei’s Clay McKnight (UC Irvine) and Shaun Jackson (Wyoming), St. Margaret’s Damian Raibon (San Francisco) and Sonora’s Craig Clark (San Jose State).

In softball, Marina’s Marcy Crouch said she signed a letter of intent Wednesday with Stanford. Crouch, also a standout in soccer and volleyball, said she will only play softball as a freshman but may play an additional sport later.

Other top county players expected to sign early include Foothill’s Michelle Churnock (Arizona), Ocean View’s Kathy Ponce (Arizona State) and Cypress’ Julie Adams (UCLA).

Although Wednesday is the first day of the early signing period for most sports, the signing period for football is Feb. 1-April 1. The signing period for field hockey, soccer, women’s volleyball and water polo begins Feb. 8.

*

Kristy Kierulff, a standout in girls’ volleyball and high jump for Esperanza, has orally committed to Long Beach State, Aztec volleyball Coach Kurt Kersten said.

Kierulff, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter, was a three-year starter in volleyball and was named All-Empire League last season and All-Sunset League this season.