Briefs: UCI trio receive honors

UC Irvine freshman Jessy Cardey, junior Cortney Collyer and senior Kat Plummer each were named All-American honorable mention Thursday by the Assn. of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.

It is the first time they have been named All-American in their careers.

Each of the three players earned All-Big West first-team honors with Cardey being named Big West Freshman of the Year and the MVP of the Big West Tournament. The Anteaters (15-14), as the No. 4- seed, defeated No. 2-seeded Cal State Northridge to win their second straight Big West Tournament title.

This is the most players UCI has had named All-American in a season in the 10-year history of the program, topping the previous total of two in 2006.

Hacker All-Academic

UC Irvine’s Colin Hacker has been named to the 2010 Division I All-Academic Track & Field team by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Assn.

To qualify for the team, nominees had to have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 and participated in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships (including preliminary rounds).

Hacker, who finished fifth in the 1500 meters at the Big West Conference Championships, qualified for the NCAA West Regional preliminary round in Austin, Tex., in May with a season-best time of 3 minutes, 46.98 seconds that ranks eighth in the UCI record book.

Hacker, who is entering his senior season at UCI, also competes for the cross country team. He is majoring in music performance.

Bailey, Hutten score

Former UC Irvine All-American Ryan Bailey scored two goals, and Tim Hutten, also a former UCI All-American, added one as the USA men’s national team lost to Croatia, 9-7, on day three of the FINA World Cup in Oradea, Romania.

The team finished group play at 1-2 and will take on Romania today in the crossover matches.

— From staff reports