UCLA’s Taliaferro Honored by Volleyball Coaches

UCLA setter Brandon Taliaferro, a junior from San Clemente High, has been named a first-team All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. Taliaferro, who averaged 16.88 assists per game, also was selected in 1997.

Senior outside hitter Donnie Rafter of UC Irvine, formerly of Tustin High, was a second-team choice, as were three players from Long Beach State: sophomore middle blocker Matt Prosser and sophomore opposite David McKienzie (Huntington Beach High) and junior setter Chris Seiffert (Laguna Hills High).

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Pam Smith of Esperanza High has committed to run cross-country and track at California, her father, Terry, said. Smith has been Sunset League MVP in cross-country for the last two years, All-Southern Section and all-state, in addition to being a Times Orange County first-team selection.

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DeAngelo Collins, who left Tustin High several weeks ago, enrolled at Inglewood this week, Inglewood boys’ basketball Coach Patrick Roy said.

A 6-9 freshman, Collins was a Golden West League first-team selection for the Tillers. Originally from Fresno, he averaged 12 points and 11.9 rebounds, but he was not happy when Tustin Coach Andy Ground resigned at the conclusion of the season.

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The Unicorns of Huntington Beach will play the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club at 3 p.m. Saturday at Robb Field in Ocean Beach to decide the Division I championship of the Southern California Rugby Football Union. Regardless of the outcome, both teams qualify for the national finals, which begin May 22-23 in Chicago and Cincinnati, according to Unicorn manager Ray Viers.

The Unicorns won the Division II title last season.

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The inaugural Flo-Jo Memorial Half-Marathon and Leisure World 5K--formerly called the Aliso Creek Half Marathon--will be held May 31 in honor of former Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner, who lived in Mission Viejo until her death last September.

Many professional athletes are expected to join Olympian Al Joyner, widower of Griffith Joyner, and the couple’s young daughter, Mary.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills and the Flo-Jo Memorial Community Empowerment Foundation. For information, call (949) 452-3466.

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Saddleback College assistant baseball Coach Chris Brown is one of three men selected to coach the USA Baseball youth division national team that competes in the Police Athletic League World Series, Aug. 1-7 in West Palm Beach, Fla.

A total of 20 16-year-old players will be chosen for the national team from more than 1,200 candidates at the Junior National Team Trials Tournament. Brown is expected to help run the tournament in Tucson, June 19-26. He also served as a trials coach in 1997.