University Finishes Strong in First-Round Win

University lost the opening game to Corona Centennial, 14-16, but came back to win the next three, 15-8, 15-1, 15-6, Tuesday at University to advance to the second round of the Southern Section Division I-A girls’ volleyball playoffs.

Katie Brandt had 13 kills and 11 blocks and Melissa Zapian had five kills and nine blocks for the Trojans (14-7), who play the winner of Santa Barbara vs. Littlerock in the second round Thursday.

In other Division I-A matches:

Marina 3, Sunny Hills 0--Chanda McLeod had 18 kills, Sarah Smith had seven kills and Ashlee Phillips had four kills and 33 assists for Marina (15-1), which won, 15-6, 15-4, 15-11.

San Clemente 3, Corona 0--Christina Vick had 12 kills as San Clemente overcame four- and five-point deficits in the first two games en route to a 15-11, 15-11, 15-9, first-round victory.

In Division I-AA girls’ volleyball:

Capistrano Valley 3, Bell Gardens 0--Becky Warnick had 10 kills and Andrea Delsigne had 37 assists for Capistrano Valley (18-1), which won, 15-3, 15-5, 15-8.

Esperanza 3, Chino Hills Ayala 0--Toni Anderson had 30 assists and Julia Rex added nine kills in the first round for Esperanza, which won, 15-6, 15-9, 15-3.

Irvine 3, Pico Rivera El Rancho 0--Julianna Bayley had 15 kills to lead Irvine to a 15-7, 15-8, 15-13, first-round victory. Irvine (12-5) rallied from a four-point deficit in the third game.

Laguna Beach 3, Diamond Bar 0--Kristin Gunderson had 12 kills in a 15-2, 15-2, 15-4, first-round victory. Laguna Beach is 20-10.

Newport Harbor 3, Downey Warren 0--April Ross had 13 kills and Kathy Lavold added eight in a 15-0, 15-11, 15-0, first-round victory. Jennifer Carey had 32 assists for Newport Harbor (19-0).

In Division II-A:

El Modena 3, El Centro Southwest 0--Michelle Armstrong had 17 kills and Sarah Somers had 16 for El Modena (12-6), which won, 15-1, 15-4, 15-3 at El Modena.

Sonora 3, Hacienda Heights Wilson 0--Alyson Merchant had 13 kills and Laura Siapin had 20 assists for Sonora (12-3), which won, 15-11, 15-6, 15-5. The Raiders play El Modena next.

In Division V-AA:

Connelly 3, Murrieta Calvary Chapel 0--Connelly rallied from a 9-2 deficit in the first game to win in the first round, 15-11, 15-6, 15-5. Ruth Lazzari had 13 kills and 17 aces to lead Connelly (14-6).

St. Margaret’s 3, Temecula Linfield 0--Halina Stanaland had 12 assists and Marissa Balak added 52 assists to lead St. Margaret’s, which won, 15-7, 15-8, 15-3.

In Division IV first-round girls’ tennis:

El Modena 15, Lakewood Mayfair 3--Jaclyn McGaughy, Casey Conrad and Christina Hernandez each swept in singles to lead El Modena (11-6), which plays at Calabasas on Saturday in the second round.

In Southern Section Division I wild-card girls’ tennis:

Capistrano Valley 14, Saddleback 4--Lynn Nugent and Michelle Keese won their sets, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0 to help Capistrano Valley. Capistrano Valley (14-7) plays Thursday at Corona Centennial in a first-round match.

In Division III:

La Habra 13, Los Altos 5--All of La Habra’s doubles teams won their sets. Kristy Steel and Kristen Bergman, 6-1, 6-1, 6-0. Janie Porter and Kristin Coffey won, 6-0, 6-2, 6-0 and Dominique Stasiewicz and Amanda Eakin won, 6-4, 6-2, 6-0. La Habra (16-4) plays at Brea on Thursday in the first round.