Palm Desert Eliminates Third-Seeded Mater Dei

Third-seeded Mater Dei lost five of six sets in the opening round and fell to unseeded Palm Desert, 12-6, in a Southern Section Division II girls’ tennis semifinal Thursday at Palm Desert.

The Monarchs (16-6) split the second-round sets with Palm Desert, but that wasn’t enough to catch the Aztecs (20-0).

Melissa Esmero won two of three singles sets for Mater Dei.

Postponements--Rain Thursday forced six Southern Section girls’ tennis semifinal matches involving county teams to be rescheduled.

In Division I, Newport Harbor plans to travel to Camarillo today for a 2 p.m. match and Corona del Mar hosts Palos Verdes Peninsula at 2 p.m. In Division II, Dana Hills hosts Santa Maria Righetti at 2 p.m. Monday.

In Division III, Santa Margarita meets Woodbridge at the Coto Valley Country Club at 2 p.m. today. In Division IV, Rosary hosts Calabasas at 2 p.m today. In Division V, Laguna Beach plays at Carpinteria Cate at 2 p.m. today.