Girls’ water polo: Santa Margarita, Villanova reach semifinals

Santa Margarita and Villanova each advanced to the Feb. 13 semifinals of the CIF-Southern Section girls’ water polo playoffs of their respective divisions with quarterfinal wins Feb. 9.

In a battle of Trinity and Rio Hondo League champions, No. 1 Santa Margarita (18-8) defeated No. 8 La Canada 8-6 to gain the Division 2 semis at Almont League winner Schurr of Montebello (25-5), ranked fifth in the final regular season CIF-SS poll.

Tri-Valley League champion Villanova (21-7) knocked off Webb 7-3, and will travel to Buena Park (23-7) for a Division 6 semifinal. Buena Park ended the regular season as the No. 1 team in D-6, with Villanova fourth.

Other regular season final rankings listed Mater Dei eighth in D-1, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks ninth in D-3, Marymount ninth in D-5 and Pomona Catholic tenth in D-7.

Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).

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