Brooke Elby, North Carolina women’s soccer captures title

The following are update on area athletes playing collegiate sports.

Brooke Elby (Flintridge Prep, 2011) North Carolina women’s soccer, sophomore: With a 4-1 win over Penn State in the 2012 NCAA Women’s College Cup championship match at the University of San Diego on Dec. 2, the Tar Heels captured their 22nd national championship in program history.

Elby, a forward, played 40 minutes off the bench and took one shot in the win, which saw North Carolina finish No. 1 in the final Continental Tire/National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll at 15-5-3.

On the season, Elby logged 905 minutes in 22 games, five of them starts, and finished with one goal and three assists. She took 12 shots, including five on goal.

Jenna Orlandini (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2009) University of Washington women’s volleyball, junior: The former All-Area selection had just five digs and three assists in the 13th-seeded Huskies’ season-ending 25-14, 25-21, 25-23 loss to fourth-seeded host Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 on Dec. 7.

The loss marked the first time Washington (25-7) had been swept all season and was also the first round of 16 loss in seven appearances under coach Jim McLaughlin.

“They set up how we approached this season,” Orlandini, a libero, stated of the Huskies’ four seniors at a press conference. “Moreso than any other year I think we were together as a unit, more often than we weren’t. We needed those seniors to bring us together and they did a really good job beginning that and maintaining that. So we thank them and appreciate everything they did for us.”

Washington opened its postseason run with a sweep of Central Arkansas on Nov. 30 and a five-game win over Hawaii on Dec. 1. Orlandini had 16 digs and a key ace in the Huskies’ 20-25, 25-20, 19-25, 27-25, 15-11 comeback win, in which Hawaii held match point in the fourth set.

On the season, Orlandini tallied a team-high 463 digs with 86 assists and 12 aces.

Camille Coffey (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2011) Fairfield University women’s volleyball, sophomore: The Stags were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 30 by sixth-ranked host USC, 25-8, 25-11, 25-10.

Coffey notched three kills and five digs in the loss, which brought Fairfield’s final record to 22-9. The Stags outside hitter recorded 202 kills with 29 assists and 13 aces on the season, which saw Fairfield capture the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title.

Travis Talianko (St. Francis High, 2012) San Jose State football, freshman: The Spartans are gearing up for their final game of the season, the 2012 Military Bowl on Dec. 27 at RFK Stadium in Washington DC, where they will face Bowling Green.

Talianko, a safety, has played in 10 games this season, but has recorded only one tackle. His former Golden Knights teammate Ryan McAleenan (2012), a linebacker is also on the Spartans’ roster for the game, in which San Jose State will look to improve its final record to 11-2.

The contest will be televised by ESPN at 12 p.m. PDT.