Ross, partner to semis

LONG BEACH – Costa Mesa resident April Ross and partner Kerri Walsh Jennings won twice on Friday to advance to Saturday’s semifinals at the Federation Internationale de Volleyball’s World Series of Beach Volleyball at Alamitos Beach.

Top-seeded Ross and Walsh Jennings, who won the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics last week, defeated No. 8-seeded Americans Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat, 21-14, 21-18, in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Also Friday, Ross, a Newport Harbor High product, and Walsh Jennings topped No. 21-seeded Americans Lane Carico and Summer Ross, 21-15, 19-21, 15-8, in Round 2.

Ross and Walsh Jennings face No. 5-seeded Germans Chantal Laboureur and Julia Sude on Saturday at 12:08 p.m.

Costa Mesa resident Sara Hughes, playing with USC teammate Kelly Claes, lost in Round 2 to No. 2-seeded Brazilians Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes, 21-18, 21-10.

Hughes and Claes, seeded No. 29, beat the No. 14-seeded Swiss duo of Nina Betschart and Tanja Huberli, 21-19, 27-25, in Round 1.

— From staff reports

— From staff reports