BRIEFS

ANTEATERS SIGN TOP PLAYER

Courtney Byron, a senior at Notre Dame Prepatory High in Scottsdale, Ariz. who is ranked No. 5 nationally among high school seniors in doubles and No. 78 nationally in singles by TennisRecruiting.net, has signed a national letter of intent to play collegiately at UC Irvine, Anteaters women’s tennis coach Mike Edles said.

Byron is one of 50 players termed five-star athletes by the recruiting website, the second-highest designation behind the 25 players it deems blue-chip athletes.

Byron is the website’s No. 1-ranked player in the Southwest section.

“Courtney has impressive all-court skills combined with athleticism and the ability to finish strong at the net,” said Edles, whose team finished 21-6 last season and made the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

The Anteaters were ranked as high as No. 28 last season, after which Edles was named Big West Conference and Wilson/ITA West Region Coach of the Year.

“We feel fortunate that Courtney has decided to join our rising program and we are confident she will be instrumental in our quest to crack the national top 20,” Edles said. “Also, Courtney comes from a family with a history of success in tennis. Her mother, Sue, is an athletic Hall of Fame inductee at Western Michigan University and father, John, is a former No. 1 player at Arizona State University.”

— From staff reports

SIGN-UPS SCHEDULED TODAY

The Costa Mesa Pony League will conduct registration for the spring 2008 season today from 9 a.m. to noon at Costa Mesa High in front of the main gym.

The Pony Division is for players ages 13 and 14. Fees are $185 per player. For information, call (714) 318-3482.

— From staff reports