UCI moves into semis

The UC Irvine men’s water polo team defeated Long Beach State, 6-5,

Friday to advance to today’s semifinals at the Mountain Pacific

Sports Federation tournament at Stanford.

UCI (16-12), ranked No. 5 nationally and seeded No. 5 in the

tournament, outscored the sixth-ranked and fourth-seeded 49ers, 3-1,

in the third period to key the victory.

UCI senior Rick Merlo scored with 5:45 left in the game to put UCI

up, 6-3.

The Anteaters advance to meet either top-seeded UCLA or UC Santa

Barbara tonight at 6:30, also at Stanford.

Merlo and Dan Noon had two goals apiece, while Joe Wynne had four

saves for the winners.

Long Beach State fell to 15-12.

Notre Dame sweeps UCI

* VOLLEYBALL: The UC Irvine women’s volleyball team’s postseason

hopes took a severe hit Friday with a 30-23, 30-28 30-27 loss to

Notre Dame in the Long Beach State tournament in Long Beach.

Kelly Wing had 14 kills to lead UCI (18-10), which was hoping to

make a statement to the NCAA tournament selection committee with a

win.

Notre Dame improved to 19-8.

The Anteaters will learn Sunday if they get into the 64-team NCAA

field for a second straight season.

Estancia wrestlers shine

* WRESTLING: Estancia High senior Alex Sotomayor and sophomore

teammate Gabe Thaler each went 4-0 Friday at the John Glenn wrestling

tournament at Sonora High.

Sotomayor pinned two opponents, decisioned another, 17-6, and

received one forfeit in the 171-pound class.

Thaler, a 160-pounder, pinned one foe, beat another, 18-1, and had

two forfeits.

Senior 140-pounder Caley Carr and heavyweight Dominic Durasonte

also won three matches, Carr’s all coming by pin, in the first day of

the two-day event.