Waves Pound Long Beach to Advance to Semifinals

Top-ranked Pepperdine took command in the first half and cruised to an 11-2 victory over Long Beach State in the first round of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation water polo tournament Friday at the Belmont Plaza Pool.

The Waves (23-1), who meet USC (17-6) in a semifinal at 2:30 p.m. today, scored three goals in the first quarter and four in the second for a 7-1 halftime lead.

Alex Rodriguez led Pepperdine with three goals and Jack Kocur and Andy Bruininga each scored twice. Goalie Merrill Moses had seven saves.

Jeffrey Colyer had both goals for Long Beach (11-17).

It was Pepperdine’s ninth consecutive victory since losing to Stanford on Oct. 19.

The Waves are 2-0 against fourth-ranked USC, which advanced with an 8-7 victory over fifth-ranked UCLA, winner of the last two NCAA titles. The Bruins finished 13-11.

Second-ranked California (21-5), an 11-7 winner over UC Santa Barbara, and third-ranked Stanford (18-6), a 6-5 winner over UC Irvine, will meet in the other semifinal at 1 p.m.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Montana State d. Cal State Northridge, 15-3, 16-14, 15-11--The Matadors (14-15), defending Big Sky Conference tournament champions, were eliminated in the first round at Cal State Sacramento.

Fifth-seeded Northridge was out-blocked, 15-3, and outhit in the match, finishing with 34 kills and 27 errors in 108 attempts. Montana State had 47 kills and 19 errors in 99 attempts.

Outside hitter Holli Sierra paced the Matadors with 12 kills and seven digs.

Fifth-seeded Montana State (19-11) was led by outside hitter Brandy Anderson, who had 14 kills and eight digs.

Northridge fell behind, 8-0, in the first game and blew a 12-7 lead in the second game.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Arkansas Tech 73, The Master’s 52--Elizabeth Hansell had 18 points and Jenifer Bennett and Karen Cormley each scored nine, but Master’s fell in a second-round game in the Wayland Baptist tournament.

Trade Tech 74, Pierce 70--Cheryl Flores scored 24 of her 36 points in the second half and the Brahmas (0-3) rallied from a 26-point deficit with 10 minutes remaining to make it close in a nonconference game at Pierce.

Flores made seven three-point baskets, including five in the second half.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Sierra 72, Moorpark 64--The Raiders (3-1) committed 28 turnovers and blew a seven-point halftime lead in a first-round loss in the Merced tournament.

Ceneka Shaw had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Charles Dixon added 16 points for Moorpark.