College Recap: UCI’s Kekauoha earns Big West honor after helping women’s volleyball team improve to 12-1

Catching up with how local college teams fared recently:

UC IRVINE

Harlee Kekauoha was named the Big West Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week on Monday after leading the Anteaters to four sweeps during the previous week.

It is the junior’s fourth weekly Big West honor, and the first for an Anteater in any sport this year, according to a news release.

Kekauoha led UCI (12-1) to victories against Fresno State, Montana State, San Francisco and Cal State Bakersfield, tallying 46 kills in the four matches. The Anteaters have won six straight matches and next open their Big West schedule at Hawaii on Friday.

In other UCI action, the women’s soccer team dropped a nonconference match against Pepperdine 4-1 on Sunday, snapping a seven-match unbeaten streak. Shelby Lee scored her second goal of the season for the Anteaters (4-2-3).

In men’s water polo, UCI easily defeated Concordia 16-4 on Friday, improving to 5-2 on the season. Jack Trush and Lovre Milos each scored five goals for the Anteaters.

VANGUARD UNIVERSITY

Women’s soccer player Amanda Valentine earned Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors Monday after the goalkeeper helped the Lions to a pair of victories last week.

Valentine, a junior goalkeeper, tallied four saves in the contests, a 5-0 victory over Soka University of America and a 2-1 overtime triumph against Ottawa University. The contest against Ottawa was the fourth this season against an opponent ranked in the top 13 for the Lions (4-3), according to a news release.

In other Vanguard news, women’s volleyball player Rebecca Lowden earned GSAC Defender of the Week honors after helping the Lions to a pair of four-set victories the previous week. It was the sixth time the junior has earned the award.

Vanguard (5-6) is now 3-0 in conference play and next takes on host San Diego Christian College on Thursday.

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE

The football team dropped to 0-3 following Saturday’s 51-10 loss at Ventura College. The Pirates allowed 541 total yards and trailed 48-3 after three quarters.

In other sports, the men’s water polo team is off to a 3-1 start, all coming in the Mt. SAC Tournament on Friday and Saturday. The women’s water polo team is 7-1 following a pair of victories in the Riverside City Tournament on Friday.

Both the men’s and women’s water polo teams host Golden West College on Wednesday. The men’s match is at 3 p.m. and the women’s contest is at 4 p.m.

In women’s volleyball, OCC (8-1) has been off since sweeping San Bernardino Valley on Sept. 8. The Pirates return to the court at 6 p.m. Wednesday against visiting Santiago Canyon in the Orange Empire Conference opener.

GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE

The men’s and women’s water polo programs are off to dominating starts. On the men’s side, Golden West is 3-0 following a 19-1 home victory Thursday against Sierra College. Vedran Latkovic led the Rustlers with three goals, according to a news release.

On the women’s side, Golden West is 8-0 this season, which included opening Orange Empire Conference play Sept. 13 with a 15-8 victory against Cypress

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