UC Irvine’s Franklin, Pilbeam Honored

Natalie Franklin and Jamie Pilbeam of UC Irvine have been named Big West Conference players of the week in women’s soccer and women’s volleyball, respectively.

Franklin, a junior, scored two goals in a pair of victories that led Irvine to the title of its own tournament. She leads the Anteaters in scoring with eight points and has been selected the best offensive player at two consecutive tournaments.

Pilbeam, a sophomore setter, set an NCAA record of 107 set assists in a four-game match during a win over Texas San Antonio. The previous record was 95 by Renata Menschikova of Central Florida against Oral Roberts on Nov. 14, 1997. Pilbeam was two assists shy of the five-game record of 109 set by Lori Endicott of Nebraska in 1988. It is her second player of the week award.

VOLLEYBALL

Isaac Owens has been hired as boys’ volleyball coach at Esperanza High, replacing Curt Kersten. Kersten will retain jobs as Aztec girls’ volleyball coach and as an assistant girls’ basketball coach, Esperanza Athletic Director Jim Patterson said.

Owens, who assists the girls’ volleyball team at Mater Dei, said he expects to leave that role when the current season ends. Owens was formerly an assistant at Huntington Beach.

SOCCER

The women’s soccer game between Mexico’s national team and UC Irvine, originally scheduled for Friday, has been canceled, the school announced.