BRIEFS:’Eaters’ Thornton honored

UC Irvine senior setter Brian Thornton has been named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation/Molten Men’s Volleyball Player of the Week.

Thornton was named MVP of the 43rd UC Santa Barbara Elephant Bar Invitational leading the Anteaters to three wins and the team title.

He averaged 15.78 assists per game while directing the offense to a .406 team hitting percentage during the tournament.

Thornton also had a career-high 12 digs and a season-best 60 set assists in a win at Cal Baptist to begin the week.

This is Thornton’s first career Player of the Week distinction.

Top-ranked UCI is 4-0 to begin the season and will host No. 4 Hawaii Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.

UCI’S HALMAN DISMISSED

Freshman center Naomi Halman has been dismissed from the UC Irvine women’s basketball team, Coach Molly Tuter announced Tuesday.

Halman who returned to the Netherlands over the holidays did not return for the Anteaters’ last four games.

“Naomi has not fulfilled her responsibilities to our team.” Tuter said. “We are looking forward to starting Big West Conference play with student-athletes that are committed to this program.”

Halman was averaging 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

UCI is 4-12 after an 89-75 nonconference win over Utah Valley State Tuesday.

NCAAs AT UC IRVINE

UC Irvine has been designated as host of the 2008 NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship, the school will officially announce on Thursday.

This will be the first time that UCI has been the host of the championship. This year’s NCAA Championship is hosted by Ohio State.