UCI’s Tallakson Named All-Big West in Tennis

Senior Steve Tallakson of UC Irvine was named first-team singles and, along with sophomore Thomas Bohun, first-team doubles when the All-Big West Conference men’s tennis team was announced Thursday.

Greg Patton, a former coach at Irvine, was named coach of the year after leading Boise State to its first conference championship and the No. 7 ranking in the nation. Boise State’s Ernesto Diaz was named player of the year after finishing with a 22-11 conference record.

Bohun was also a second-team singles selection, and Irvine’s Cameran Lindee and Rob Walker were second-team doubles picks. Boise State’s Ryan Thompson, also named second-team doubles, is a graduate of Foothill High.

The all-conference teams:

First-team singles: David Dalgaard (Boise State), Ernesto Diaz (BSU), Jong Min Lee (UC Santa Barbara), Chris Magyary (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), Martin Ostberg (New Mexico State), Steve Tallakson (UC Irvine), Danny Willman (Idaho).

First-team doubles: Adrian Contreras/Ostberg (NMS), Diaz/Albin Polonyi (BSU), Ross Duncan/Lee (UCSB), Tallakson/Thomas Bohun (UCI).

Second-team singles: Jorge Aldrete (I), Bohun (UCI), Contreras (NMS), Davidson (BSU), Tsolak Gevorkian (BSU), Cory Guy (UCSB), Polonyi (BSU), Richard Strom (BSU).

Second-team doubles: Darin Curall/Keith Bradbury (I), Willman/Aldrete (I), Cameron Lindee/Rob Walker (UCI), Strom/Ryan Thompson (BSU).

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Whitney Houser, whose consistent play helped Laguna Hills win the State Division II girls’ basketball title this season, has signed a letter of intent at USC.

Houser, a 5-11 forward, shot 49.5% from the field and averaged 12.5 points and six rebounds for Laguna Hills. She was a second-team Times all-county selection.

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Lori Hurlbut of Mater Dei has made an oral commitment to attend UC Davis to play women’s basketball, she said.

Hurlbut averaged 14 poi last season and played an integral role in Mater Dei’s 1996 state championship her junior season.

Davis reached the NCAA Division II semifinals last season. It will begin offering scholarships in the 1998-99 season.

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Lana Kraus of Irvine High has signed a letter of intent to play water polo for USC, her parents, Hans and Laurie Kraus, announced. Kraus was a first-team All-Sea View League selection in water polo.