The Sailors and Monarchs each posted straight-set victories in their quarterfinal matches Oct. 30, as Marymount (33-3) defeated No. 7 Vista Murrieta while Mater Dei (28-4) downed No. 6 Mira Costa. The winner will face either No. 1 Redondo Union or No. 4 Sierra Canyon, who face one another on Saturday. Finals are scheduled Nov. 9.

This Saturday’s 6 p.m. semifinal will be the third time the two Catholic schools have met this season. Marymount (third in Maxpreps’ national computer rankings) beat Mater Dei (third in Maxpreps’ Xcellent 25 rankings) in the Durango Fall Classic Sept. 21 and again on Oct. 5 in the Nike Tournament of Champions.

But Mater Dei got the upper hand a year ago, winning three of four head-to-head battles including the CIF-SS Division 1 championship match and, 10 days later, the State Open Division regional championship. Since 2004, Mater Dei has won nine of its 17 meetings with Marymount.

Three other Catholic school teams reached the semifinals in their respective divisions with quarterfinal victories.

In Division 2, tenth-seeded Bishop Montgomery (26-5) upset No. 2 San Juan Hills in a thrilling four-set battle,

23-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-23, to reach the semis against the Esperanza-Westlake winner (match to be played Oct. 31). No. 4 Santa Margarita, however, lost a tough five-set match to Moreno Valley (15-11 in the fifth).

In D-7, fifth-seeded Sacred Heart (17-2) won a marathon second set and went on to defeat No. 8 Loara, 21-25, 34-32, 25-17, 25-21. The Comets (17-2) will play at Desert Christian Academy (12-8) in the semis.

And in D-8, unseeded St. Bernard continued its run of upsets, beating No. 4 Santa Clarita Christian in four sets. The Vikings (13-7) will play their semifinal match against No. 2 Trinity Classical (19-9), which defeated No. 10 Bishop Diego in five sets. 

In D-6, No. 5 St. Bonaventure (20-7) hosts No. 4 Buckley (19-11) on Oct. 31 (rescheduled from Oct. 30. No. 3 Nordhoff defeated No. 6 Mary Star in four sets. 

Elsewhere:

D-3: No. 9 Notre Dame Academy won the first set over top-seeded Ontario Christian but ultimately fell in four sets.

D-4: No. 3 St. Anthony was beaten in five sets by No. 6 Valley Christian.

D-5: No. 5 Palm Desert outlasted No. 4 Chaminade in five sets (15-13 in the fifth).

D-9: No. 2 Avalon beat Santa Clara in three sets.