WEDNESDAY’S CIF-SS GIRLS WATER POLO SEMIFINALS
DIVISION 4
MISSION VIEJO (26-4) VS. RIVERSIDE POLY (21-11)
Site, time: Diamond Bar, 5:30 p.m.
Outlook: The third-seeded Diablos have reached the semifinals for the first time and encounter a four-time CIF champion and Inland Empire powerhouse. The second-seeded Bears captured Division 3 titles from 2008-10 and took the Division 5 crown last season. Mission Viejo doesn’t feature a senior but has plenty of balance. Skylar Newhouser (89) and Emilee Feilmeier (84) lead the offense while quarterfinal hero Megan Patterson (74 steals), pictured above, and goalie Tiffany Sims anchor the defense. Riverside Poly played a challenging schedule, losing to mostly Division 1 or 2 teams. Poly is led by junior Lauren Bywater, a 5-foot-11 utility who has 134 goals, and sophomore Sara Dempsey. The Bears graduated five seniors from their championship team last season.
In the other semifinal, top-ranked Royal takes No. 4 Cerritos at Diamond Bar at 7:30 p.m.
