Girls’ Prep Volleyball : Irvine, Newport Harbor Win and Advance to Semifinals

Newport Harbor High School, the Southern Section 5-A champion, defeated Palisades, the City 4-A titlist, in straight sets, 15-9, 15-4, 15-6, Saturday night, in a girls’ Division I state volleyball quarterfinal match at Newport Harbor.

Senior outside hitter Jenny Evans led the way for Newport Harbor with 18 kills and 3 blocks. Newport Harbor (20-0) will play the winner of Saturday night’s Los Altos-Davis match on Tuesday night at Corona del Mar High.

In another Division I quarterfinal game, Irvine, the Southern Section 4-A champion, defeated Corona del Mar, the 5-A runner-up, 15-13, 15-4, 15-6. It marked the first time in four meetings this season that Irvine has defeated the Sea Kings. Irvine will play at Sunnyvale Fremont Tuesday night in a semifinal match.

In a Division II semifinal game, San Gabriel, the Southern Section 3-A champion, defeated Thousand Oaks, the Southern Section 2-A titlist, 15-9, 11-15, 12-15, 17-15, 15-8.

In Division III, San Diego Francis Parker defeated Maranatha, 15-13, 15-12, 15-9 to move into the state final against the winner of Saturday night’s St. Helena-San Francisco St. Rose game.