Irvin Reaches Final of Easter Bowl

Marissa Irvin reached the final of the girls’ 18-year-old division with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Michelle DaCosta of Huber Heights, Ohio, in the Easter Bowl tennis tournament Thursday at Riviera Resort and Racquet Club in Palm Springs.

Irvin, a Santa Monica resident and senior at Harvard-Westlake High, will meet Lauren Kalvaria of Indiatlantic, Fla., today in the girls’ 18s championship. Kalvaria defeated Jennifer Hopkins of Leawood, Kan., 6-1, 6-3.

“I am playing well,” Irvin said. “I was hitting the ball well off both sides. Every match I’m playing better and better.”

Maureen Diaz of Glendale fell in the final of the girls’ 16s, a day after upsetting top-seeded Lauren Barnikow of Woodbridge, N.J. Diaz, seeded third, lost, 6-3, 6-0, to Candice Fuchs of San Diego.

Fuchs won the girls’ 14s two years ago and made her way to the final by defeating second-seeded Kristen Schukebir of Kalamazoo, Mich.

“Most of [Fuchs’] first serves were really big, moved me around and set up points,” Diaz said.

Ashley Harkleroad of Flintstone, Ga., won the girls’ 14s by defeating Jennifer Smith of Charlotte, N.C., 7-6, 6-1, while Val Banada of Miami won the boys’ 14s by beating Derrick Bauer of Marina del Rey, 6-3, 7-5.

The boys’ 18s final today will match Andrew Park of San Marino and Matias Boeker of Miami, while Andy Roddick of Boca Raton takes on Alex Bogomolov of Miami in the boys’ 16s final.

DIVING

Three-deep: Troy Dumais of Ventura finished third in the one-meter springboard at the U.S. National Diving championships in Indianapolis.

Dumais, a senior at Buena High, had 397.53 points, finishing behind Bryan Gillooly of Kissimmee, Fla., and Mark Ruiz of Orlando.

SOFTBALL

Golden Griffin: Sara Griffin of second-ranked Michigan was chosen the National Fastpitch Coaches Assn. player of the week, earning the award for the fourth time in her four-year career.

Griffin (21-0), a Simi Valley High graduate and two-time Big Ten Conference player of the year, recorded three victories against No. 16 Minnesota, extending her record to 10-0 in Big Ten competition.

She also went seven for 16 during the week and set a Michigan record for hits with 245 in her career. It is the seventh Michigan career record for Griffin.

Borra sidelined: Alemany outfielder Debbie Borra is expected to miss about two weeks after straining ligaments in her left knee.

BASKETBALL

Catwalk: JoAnna Garrick of Burroughs High, an All-Foothill League center, said she will walk on at Brigham Young.

TRACK AND FIELD

Westwood bound: Eboni Grayson of Taft High, the defending City Section champion in the girls’ 100 and 200 meters, has committed to UCLA.

Grayson, who has personal bests of 12.00 in the 100 and 24.29 in the 200, chose UCLA over Arizona State and Cal State Northridge.

VOLLEYBALL

Net gains: Outside hitter Tory Fithian and setter Kylene Krol of La Reina High have committed to Cal Lutheran.