Krayzelburg, Ervin Advance in Sydney

Anthony Ervin of Valencia qualified for the semifinals in the 50-meter freestyle and Lenny Krayzelburg of Studio City qualified for the final of the 200 backstroke Wednesday at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Ervin, a Hart High graduate and The Times’ Valley/Ventura County boys’ swimmer of the year as a senior in 1999, timed 22.24 seconds, the fourth-fastest qualifying time.

The 19-year-old California sophomore trailed Bart Kizierowski of Poland (22.05), Gary Hall Jr. (22.14) and world record-holder Alexander Popov of Russia (22.14).

“It was all right,” Ervin said. “I didn’t get too much sleep [Tuesday] night. I was a little concerned. My goal was just to make it back.”

Ervin was among 16 swimmers who advanced to semifinals today. The eight-man final is Friday.

Also scheduled for Friday is the 200-meter backstroke final, for which Krayzelburg and 17-year-old Aaron Peirsol of Newport Harbor High qualified 1-2.

Krayzelburg, who won a gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke Tuesday in an Olympic-record time of 53.72 seconds and is the world record-holder in the 200 backstroke, set another Olympic record with his qualifying time of 1:57.27.

Peirsol is the last person to beat Krayzelburg in a race, in the 200 backstroke at the Janet Evans Invitational in July. He had the second-best qualifying time of 1:58.44 in the semifinals.

JENNY JOHNSON JORDAN and ANNETT DAVIS / BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Third-seeded Jordan and Davis, both from Tarzana, defeated the Cuban team of Dalixia Fernandez and Tamara Larrea, 15-9, and advanced to the quarterfinals.

The Americans beat Fernandez and Larrea for the second time this year. They defeated the Cuban team, 15-8, in in Germany in July.

But this time was different.

“It’s going to be like a whole new tournament for everyone,” Jordan said. “Now if you lose, you’re out.”

Fernandez and Larrea, seeded No. 20, lost their opener and had to win two consolation matches this week to face Jordan and Davis.

Jordan and Davis were playing their first match following a four-day layoff after a 15-13 victory in the opening round Saturday against Annette Huygens Tholen and Sarah Straton of Australia.

The U.S. team trailed, 6-2 and 9-6, before scoring nine consecutive points, winning on a kill by Jordan.

DAIN BLANTON / BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Former Pepperdine star Dain Blanton of Santa Monica and partner Eric Fonoimoana of Hermosa Beach play their second match Friday in Sydney. They won their opener on Sunday, 15-7, over Germany’s Andreas Scheuerpflug and Oliver Oetke.