NCAA Digest


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Corral and Vucevic recognized for outstanding play

Two USC basketball players have been named USC Credit Union Student-Athletes of the week.

Junior guard Ashley Corral combined for 30 points against Oregon State and Oregon in leading the team to a two-game road sweep.

In the win over Oregon State, Corral reached the 1,000-point mark for her career and also became the Women of Troy’s all-time 3-point leader.

Junior forward Nikola Vucevic averaged 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in USC’s two games against the Oregon schools. He put up 17 points and 10 rebounds in USC’s win over Oregon State, and contributed another double-double with 22 points and 15 boards in the loss to Oregon.

—Elisa Hernandez

Sanchez and Poldma earn Pac-10 honors

Senior Maria Sanchez has garnered a long list of accolades during her time at USC, and the women’s tennis captain continues to add to her legacy after being named Pac-10 Player of the Week for the fourth time in her Trojan career.

Sanchez is currently riding a 15-match undefeated streak in the singles department, and has been the driving force behind the USC women’s hot start to the season.

After dispatching No. 8 Aeriel Ellis in both her singles and doubles matchup Sunday, along with USF’s No. 25 Irene Rehberger, Sanchez jumped to the front of the discussion for National Player of the Year.

—Jesse Paguaga

USC men’s tennis player senior Jaak Poldma was named Pac-10 Player of the Week following an impressive win against Pepperdine’s Sebastian Fanselow on Friday.

Poldma, nationally ranked No. 94 in singles and No. 51 in doubles with partner sophomore J.T. Sundling, received the honor for the second time in his career.

The award comes on the heels of a successful singles season for Poldma, who is currently 16-3 overall and holds a six-game winning streak and a perfect record in dual matches.

—Deepa Ramprasad

Colbert set on making it back to NFL

USC tight ends assistant Keary Colbert, who joined the staff a year ago, is stepping down in hopes of revitalizing his NFL playing career, according to the football office.

Colbert, 28, was among the favorites to replace the recently departed wide receivers coach John Morton, who left to take on a similar position with the San Francisco 49ers last month.

“After spending a year working with the tight ends at USC as a graduate assistant, it ignited my passion and fire to compete at the highest level,” Colbert said in a statement. “I’ve been training and getting myself physically prepared to make a comeback in the NFL.”

Colbert, a former 2004 second-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers, spent five years in the NFL, where he amassed a total of 121 catches for 1,540 yards and eight touchdowns. He set Panther rookie records with 47 receptions, 754 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

He spent the 2008 season with Seattle, Denver and Detroit. In 2009, he played for the UFL’s Florida Tuskers.

A four-year starter for USC, Colbert once held the school’s all-time mark for receptions with 207. He was also a member of the Trojans’ 2003 national championship team.

—Joey Kaufman