UC Irvine’s Hutten, Mello earn high national honor

UC Irvine seniors Tim Hutten and Colin Mello have been named to the 2007 All-America first team by the Assn. of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.

Hutten, who was Player of the Year in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, led UCI with 75 goals this season and topped the nation and MPSF with an average of 3.75 goals per game.

He scored at least four goals in 10 of UCI’s 25 games, including a school-record nine in an 18-6, non-conference win over UC San Diego Nov. 7. Hutten, a redshirt in 2006, was second-team All-America in 2005 as a junior.

Mello had 47 goals this season and ranked fifth in the MPSF with a 2.35 scoring average. He was named to the All-America second team a year ago.

Senior Cole Bitter, who scored 31 goals this season, was named to the All-America honorable mention team.

Coach Marc Hunt’s Anteaters finished the season 14-11 overall and were ranked No. 3 in the final national poll. They reached the championship match of the MPSF Tournament for the first time in school history.

— From staff reports