Alumni Report

A weekly look at the college progress of former Orange County prep athletes.

UCLA VOLLEYBALL

* County connection: Brandon Taliaferro of San Clemente, Eric Vallely of Newport Harbor, Clay Chilcott of Huntington Beach

* Worth noting: The Bruins (28-4) defeated top-seeded Pepperdine, 3-0, on May 2 to win their 17th NCAA men’s volleyball championship. It was UCLA’s third national title in four years and fourth in the last six seasons. Taliaferro, a sophomore setter, had 84 assists, eight digs, six blocks and two aces in the championship match, earning him all-tournament honors. Taliaferro was also an All-American first-team selection. He had a school-record 1,848 assists for the season, ranking seventh nationally. He also set a UCLA single-match record with 110 assists against Lewis in the NCAA semifinals. He also tied the school’s single-match record for aces.

WHITTIER BASEBALL

* County connection: Ean White of Villa Park

* Worth noting: White, a sophomore catcher, was named first-team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Assn. He hit .406, .477 in conference play, with four home runs and 30 runs batted in.

UC SAN DIEGO TRACK AND FIELD

* County connection: Courtney Gray of Los Alamitos

* Worth noting: Gray, a senior middle distance runner, lowered her 800-meter time by four seconds to 14:52 and qualified for the NCAA Division III track and field championships, May 23, in St. Paul, Minn. There, Gray placed fourth to earn All-America honors.

Alumni Report welcomes suggestions on former county athletes now in college. Call (714) 966-5904 or fax information to (714) 966-5663.