Granada Hills Falls in Semifinals

The Granada Hills High boys’ volleyball team advanced to the semifinals of the 40-team California Volleyball Tournament of Champions before bowing to powerhouse Capistrano Valley, 15-6, Saturday at Cal State Northridge.

Capistrano Valley beat Fresno Bullard, 15-7, in the championship match.

“They had too many guns for us,” Highlander Coach Tom Harp said of the Cougars, who boast two players, Aaron Garcia and Eric Seiffert, on the U.S. junior national team.

“They’re an excellent team. But we made it to the round of four out of 40 teams. That’s not a bad day.”

The Cougars, who entered the season ranked No. 1 in Southern Section Division I, clearly were the superior team.

“I guess that’s just the difference between beach schools and City schools,” said Highlander outside hitter Mike DiSimone, who played well despite suffering from a sore right shoulder that prevented him from hitting with his normal force.

Granada Hills went undefeated in pool play earlier in the afternoon at Pierce College.

The Highlanders defeated Westchester, 15-13, in the round of 16 and topped Bell, 15-12, in a quarterfinal.

Area teams Notre Dame, Cleveland, Taft and Canyon were eliminated in pool play.

All four lost six of eight matches.

Agoura, scheduled to participate in the tournament, did not show. Tournament organizers were unsure of the reason.