Dunlap picks UCLA for volleyball

Even food poisoning could not spoil the feeling for Weston Dunlap.

The Newport Harbor senior middle blocker had a lobster dinner Tuesday with his family to celebrate his verbal commitment to play volleyball for UCLA, but left with a case of food poisoning.

The illness did not prevent Dunlap from riding high on the decision nor prevent him from playing in the Sailors’ volleyball match at Laguna Beach the next day.

Dunlap, who was also recruited by USC and UC Irvine, said UCLA was the easy pick. His dad graduated a Bruin and Dunlap has been a fan of the sports teams since he was a kid.

“That’s where my heart was,” Dunlap said. “No other place gave me that feeling.”

In April, Dunlap will officially sign with UCLA, which recruited him since he was a freshman.

“It felt great to have a chance to be at all these great schools and not have to worry about applying and being accepted,” Dunlap said.

The 6-foot-7 Dunlap said he expects to play middle blocker for the No. 5-ranked Bruins, cracking the starting lineup in two or three years.

UCLA currently has two former Sailors on the roster in freshman Brett Perrine and sophomore Jamie Diefenbach, who will playing at UC Irvine on Friday night.

“They look like they need some middle blockers,” Dunlap said. “It’s going to be a lot different, a lot faster.”

Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said Dunlap, who also starred for the basketball team, will have a strong collegiate career.

“He’s got a great future,” the 21-year coach said. “His speed and his quickness, he just has that volleyball body. He’s got a quick arm. He’s just going to get better and better as he gets stronger. His best years are ahead of him.

“If he has a volleyball season like his basketball season, I’ll be very excited.”