Briefs: Former Tars collide

Former Newport Harbor High stars Misty May-Treanor and April Ross collided in the women’s quarterfinals of the $1 million Federation International de Volleyball Beach Volleyball Swatch World Championships on Friday at Foro Italico Sports Complex in Rome, Italy.

May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh outlasted Ross and Jennifer Kessy, the defending event champions, 21-18, 18-21, 15-10, in a 46-minute match.

May-Treanor had 18 kills, 11 digs and one ace serve, while Ross had 15 kills, eight digs and one ace.

May-Treanor and Walsh are two-time Olympic gold medal winners who are now 7-0 against Ross-Kessy in FIVB matches.

May-Treanor and Walsh, the No. 5 seeded team, will face No. 8-seeded Chen Xue and Zi Zhang in one semifinal Saturday.

Xue and Zhang won the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

May-Treanor and Walsh boast a 7-2 record against the Chinese pair.

Their last match ended when May-Treanor had to retire with a knee injury after Xue-Zhang had earned a 21-13 victory in the first set and led in the second set, 10-8.

The other women’s semifinal pits Brazil’s top-seeded tandem of Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca against No. 22-seeded Lenka Hajeckova and Hana Klapalolova from the Czech Republic.

The final is scheduled for Sunday.

In the men’s event, Estancia High product Matt Fuerbringer and partner Nick Lucena, the No. 7-seeded entry, lost, 21-19, 15-21, 15-13, in the round of 16 to the No. 12-seeded Brazilian duo of Rhooney Ferramenta and Pedro Salgado.

Ferramenta and Salgado advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals.

— From staff reports

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Team USA in semis

TIANJIN, China — The United States women’s water polo national team, which features Newport Harbor High alumna Anne Belden and Corona del Mar alumna Tumua Anae, advanced to the semifinals of the FINA World League Super Final with an 8-6 victory over Canada on Friday.

Kelly Rulon scored twice to lead the Americans.

Neither Belden, an attacker, nor Anae, a goalie, played in the match.

Team USA likely will face Australia in a Saturday semifinal.

— From staff reports