Briefs: Ross, partner ninth; Walsh Jennings to have shoulder surgery

Costa Mesa resident April Ross and partner Kerri Walsh Jennings finished ninth at the Federation Internationale de Volleyball Rio Open beach volleyball event completed Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Ross and Walsh Jennings, the No. 6 seed, lost to fellow Americans Summer Ross and Lane Carico, 21-12, 18-21, 15-13, in the first round of 16.

Ross and Walsh Jennings swept their three matches in pool play, including a 21-19, 21-12 triumph over No. 7-seeded Brazilian duo of Maria Clara Salgado Rufino and Carolina Solberg Salgado.

Walsh Jennings, the three-time Olympic gold medalist, will have surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum and torn capsule in her right shoulder, she told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday.

Walsh Jennings will miss the remainder of beach volleyball tour events domestically and abroad in 2015, and is aiming to make it back to competition in mid-March. It will be her fifth shoulder surgery.

Costa Mesa resident Jennifer Fopma, playing with Brittany Hochevar, withdrew from the tournament during pool play due to an unspecified injury.

— From staff reports

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Local duo 13th

On the heels of their Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tournament victory in Chicago the previous week, former Newport Harbor High standout Ty Tramblie and Costa Mesa resident Brad Keenan finished 13th in the AVP event completed Sunday in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Tramblie and Keenan, seeded No. 5, lost, 21-18, 21-16, to Avery Drost in the first round of the winners’ bracket, then forfeited their first match in the contenders’ bracket and were eliminated.

Tramblie and Keenan split $2,000.

The AVP Tour comes to Huntington Beach for the AVP Championships, Friday through Sunday, near the pier.

— From staff reports

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UCI’s Hiura shines

UC Irvine baseball standout Keston Hiura topped three Anteaters recognized by the West Coast League for outstanding summer seasons.

Hiura, the 2015 Big West Conference Freshman Field Player of the Year, was a first-team all-league honoree, after hitting .356 with 68 hits and 42 runs batted in for the Wenatchee (Wash.) AppleSox.

Hiura, a first-team All-Big West outfielder for the Anteaters, was third in the league in hitting and second in hits, doubles (21) and RBIs. His six triples led the league and he also bashed six home runs. He was successful on 13 of 19 stolen-base attempts and Baseball American named him the No. 4 prospect in the WCL.

Mitchell Holland, a first baseman who will be a senior in 2016, and A.J. Alcantara, a outfielder who will be junior next spring, were second-team honorees.

Holland hit .312 for Wenatchee, with three home runs, 29 RBIs, 59 hits, 11 doubles and 32 runs.

Alcantara hit .330 for the Victoria (British Columbia, Canada) HarbourCats with 33 hits, two home runs, 21 RBIs and 12 extra-base hits.

Parker Coss, a freshman third baseman for UCI in 2015, and Sean Sparling, a sophomore relief pitcher last spring, received honorable mention.

Coss hit .308 with 49 hits, 13 doubles and 13 RBIs for the Walla Walla (Wash.) Sweets.

Sparling led Wenatchee with a 1.61 earned-run average with three saves. He struck out 23 and allowed 22 hits in 28 innings.

— From staff reports