Briefs: Locals tune up for JOs

The Corona del Mar 18U girls water polo team reached the final of the Manhattan Beach Invitational and the CdM 16U team went 6-0 to sweep the EAST Tournament completed Sunday and held in La Canada and Anaheim.

Both teams will compete in the National Junior Olympics, Thursday through Sunday in venues near Stanford University

The CdM 18s lost to San Diego Shores, 8-7, in the championship game held at Mira Costa High. CdM defeated Commerce, 7-4, and Rose Bowl, 10-7, in bracket play. It then defeated Huntington Beach, 5-4, in the semifinals.

CdM has also qualified 12U and 14U age-group teams for the National Junior Olympics. The four teams qualified earlier this summer through the Southern Pacific Zone JO qualifying tournament and will play in the Championship Division.

The CdM 18U team is seeded No. 9. It opens the JOs by facing No. 40-seeded Modesto/Stanislaus at Palo Alto High.

The CdM 16U team faces top-seeded Commerce at Stanford University’s Belardi pool.

The CdM 14U team is seeded No. 12. It opens against No. 37-seeded Seattle WPC at Stanford’s Baker pool.

The CdM 12U team is seeded No. 10 and will face No. 23-seeded Santa Barbara “B” at San Jose State.

Results of the tournament will be posted at https://www.juniorolympics.com.

— Reader submission

Newport in semis

Newport Beach Water Polo Inc., a club made up of Newport Harbor High players, advanced to the semifinals of the 18U boys’ division at the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics Monday in Stanford, Calif.

Newport Beach defeated Foothill in a shootout after the teams tied, 8-8, in regulation at the Stanford Avery Aquatic Center.

After finishing second in the California State High School Championships last week, Newport Beach is hoping to reach the Junior Olympics final. The Newport boys will play in the semifinals Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Newport beat Corona del Mar, 11-8, then Lamorinda, 10-8, to reach the quarterfinals.

— From staff reports

Anteaters chosen

UC Irvine women’s water polo goalie Jillian Yocum and incoming freshman center McKenna Mitchell are on the U.S. junior national team that will compete in the Pan American junior championships, Aug. 10 through 18 in Montreal, Canada.

Yocum, a freshman in 2012 when the Anteaters finished 25-8 and were fourth in the NCAA Tournament, played in 25 games and made 19 starts. She amassed 196 saves and was 15-5 in goal.

— From staff reports

UCI’s Smith shines

UC Irvine women’s tennis player Kristina Smith won the singles title in the first leg of the ITA Summer Circuit, completed July 10 in Laguna Niguel.

The No. 2 seed, Smith, a first-team All-Big West Conference performer in singles as a junior in 2012, defeated top-seeded Lorraine Guillermo of Pepperdine, 6-2, 6-2, in the final at the Laguna Niguel Racquet Club.

Smith also reached the final in doubles with her sister, Joanna.

— From staff reports

GSAC names leader

The Golden State Athletic Conference, of which Vanguard University is a member, recently named Mike Daniels as its commissioner.

Daniels, had been associate commissioner of the Big West Conference and worked the last 14 years for the Big West in various positions.

“I am extremely happy to be joining the Golden State Athletic Conference,” Daniels, an Aliso Viejo resident, said in a statement. “My vision begins with leading a group of schools with commonalities in faith and purpose to maintain the league’s status as one of the best in the NAIA.”

Daniels becomes the first full-time commissioner of the Golden State Athletic Conference. Cliff Hamlow (1991 to 2012) and Carroll Land (1986-91) previously held the title.

The Golden State Athletic Conference went from 10 schools to eight after last season, when Azusa Pacific, Point Loma Nazarene and Fresno Pacific left to join the NCAA Division II ranks. Arizona Christian will enter the conference that also includes Vanguard, Concordia, Biola, Westmont, San Diego Christian, The Master’s and Hope International.

— From staff reports

Heerlyn tops Vanguard recruits

Charly Heerlyn, a first-team All-CIF San Diego Section outside hitter from West Hills High in Santee, leads a class of five incoming freshman for the Vanguard University women’s volleyball team.

Vanguard Coach Eryn Leja recently announced her recruiting class for the 2012 season that begins Aug. 17 against Eastern Oregon at the College of Idaho Tournament.

The 6-foot-1 Heerlyn was Grossmont Hills League MVP as a senior and was team MVP as a junior.

Stephanie Flores, a 6-1 middle blocker who was a first-team All-Citrus Belt League performer and was Offensive Player of the Year at Yucaipa High, is another addition for the Lions, who advanced to the NAIA Tournament last season.

Sarah McKinny, a 6-0 opposite from Dos Pueblos High in Goleta, Carla Cantarella, a 5-5 libero and setter from Edison High, and Rachael Barker, a 6-0 outside hitter from West Torrance High, round out the newcomers.

— From staff reports