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Sophomore libero Tony Ker, of the UCLA men’s volleyball squad, was named to the U.S. Junior

UCLA sophomore libero Tony Ker, named an Asics All-American a year ago, was named to the U.S. Junior National Team on Friday. Ker’s U.S. team will compete in the under-21 World Volleyball Championships in India from Aug. 6 to 14, hosted by the International Volleyball Federation. The team will be coached by former UCLA assistant coach John Speraw and will be competing in the tournament for the first time in 24 years. Last year, Ker was the first UCLA freshman to be named to the MPSF All-Conference and All-American teams since fellow libero Adam Shrader accomplished the feat five years ago. Ker will be one of three starters returning from the Bruin men’s volleyball team that finished runner-up in the NCAA championships last year. Also competing for the junior national team are Pepperdine setter Jonathan Winder and Ohio State setter Daniel Matthews.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: UCLA sophomore Lorenzo Mata is still recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered nearly three weeks ago. The 6-foot-8 center, who said he hurt his ankle coming down with the ball in a pick-up game with NBA players, was sporting an air-cast on his left ankle Sunday at West Los Angeles College. Mata, who had been playing well in the Nike College ProCity League of Los Angeles before he got injured, said he plans to begin rehabilitating the ankle today and expects to be back on the court within three weeks, “It’s still bruised up and swollen,” Mata said. “It hurts when I move it one way or the other. But it’ll be OK.” Sinclair’s Bruins, a summer league team that is mainly composed of current UCLA men’s basketball players, saw its season come to an abrupt end Sunday. The second-seeded team, which featured current Bruins Jordan Farmar and Josh Shipp and incoming Bruins Darren Collison, Ryan Wright, Michael Roll, Luc Moute and Alfred Aboya, lost to Hank’s Top Prospects 86-82 on Sunday at West Los Angeles College.

FOOTBALL: Former UCLA running back Manuel White, a fourth-round draft pick in this year’s NFL draft, agreed to a four-year, $1.81 million contract Wednesday with the Washington Redskins. White, a 6-foot-2, 239-pounder from Valencia High School, will receive a $420,000 signing bonus, and is expected to be used as a versatile halfback in the Redskins’ offense. White caught 20 passes for 115 yards for the Bruins last season, and is expected to move to the halfback position in the NFL after predominantly being used as a fullback for UCLA. In an article by the Washington Times, White said he plans to donate a part of his signing bonus to UCLA.

PERRY SIGNS: Former UCLA wide receiver Tab Perry signed a three-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder was the team’s sixth-round draft pick. He had 84 career receptions and 1,547 yards for the Bruins. Perry is expected to play immediately on special teams, where he averaged 22 yards on 67 kickoff returns at UCLA. “They have a couple of guys established as receivers,” Jeff Sperbeck, Perry’s agent, told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He’ll get his opportunity to compete on special teams and on offense.” Perry was readmitted to the Bruins his senior year after sitting out the previous season when he was academically ineligible.

Compiled by Seth Fast Glass and Bruin Sports senior staff.