The Crespi Celts in action against Moorpark on Sept. 17. (CrespiAthletics/Twitter)
J.Serra and Crespi, which topped their respective divisional polls much of the season, will play for CIF-SS boys’ water polo championships on Nov. 16 after winning their semifinal matches Nov. 13.
In Division 4, J.Serra (26-5) defeated No. 5 Pacifica of Garden Grove 13-8 and will play No. 2 San Juan Hills (22-9) on Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. In Division 6, Crespi (20-11) ousted No. 4 Los Altos of Hacienda Heights 13-7, earning the right to play second-seeded Redlands (22-10) in a 2:50 p.m. match on Nov. 16.
Both matches take place at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine. Crespi previously won the 1981 CIF 2A championship, while J.Serra is making its first finals appearance.
In other semifinals, No. 3 Loyola lost its Division 1 match 9-6 to No. 2 Newport Harbor. And in D-5, No. 2 St. Francis lost 9-7 to No. 3 Trabuco Hills.
For the first time in its history, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks has reached the finals of the CIF-Southern Section girls' tennis tournament.
The Knights overwhelmed El Segundo 14-4 in the Division 3 semifinals Nov. 13 to qualify for the finals Nov. 15 at the Claremont Club. Notre Dame (12-7) will play top-seeded Portola (19-5) for the D-3 title.
In the Open Division of the State Championship Tournament, fourth-seeded Marymount rallied to beat No. 5 Cathedral Catholic of San Diego on Nov. 13, 18-25, 28-26, 25-21, 25-23, and will play No. 1 Torrey Pines in the regional semifinals on Nov. 16. Mater Dei – seeded third – drew a first round bye and will play No. 2 Redondo Union in the semis, a rematch of last week’s CIF-SS D-1 final won by Redondo.