Briefs: Rice wins at Deaflympics

Newport Beach resident Chloe Rice helped the United States Deaf Women’s National Soccer Team win gold at the Deaflympics earlier this month in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Team USA won its third straight gold by defeating Russia, 2-1, in the title match on Aug. 4. The United States side, which outscored its opponents, 25-0, in pool play, also defeated Great Britain, 5-0, in the semifinals. The United States is undefeated in international competition.

Rice, who was the second-youngest player on the team, will be a sophomore at Corona del Mar High. She is not totally deaf, but has about 55 decibels lost or greater in her best ear, near the miminum required to compete for the national team.

— From staff reports

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Ex-’Eaters aid USA

Two former and one current UC Irvine men’s volleyball All-Americans helped the United States earn a 26-24, 25-14, 22-25, 21-25, 15-7 victory over the Dominican Republic in the opening round of pool play on Monday at the Pan American Cup in Mexico City.

U.S. captain Ryan Ammerman started at setter and keyed the American attack.

Dan McDonnell, a senior middle blocker on UCI’s 2012 NCAA championship squad, started for the Americans and had six points on six attacks.

Michael Brinkley, UCI’s libero on national title-winning squads in 2012 and 2013, also started for Team USA, which continues pool play on Wednesday against Trinidad and Tobego.

— From staff reports

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Wilson to walk on at New Hampshire

Recent Estancia High graduate Brad Wilson said he plans to be a walk-on football player at the University of New Hampshire, which is ranked eighth in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Preseason Poll.

Wilson, a two-year starter at Estancia, graduated in 2013. He earned first-team All-Orange Coast League honors during his junior and senior seasons.

In his final year, Wilson completed 66-of-141 passes for 975 yards and nine touchdowns, with three interceptions.

— From staff reports