Briefs: Team USA women into semifinals

SHANGHAI, China — Corona del Mar’s Maddie Musselman scored a goal as the U.S. senior national women’s water polo team beat Russia, 17-6, on Friday in a FINA World League Super Final quarterfinal match.

Newport Harbor High and USC graduate Kaleigh Gilchrist also contributed for Team USA in the convincing win, which had the Americans up, 8-0, at halftime.

Kiley Neushul led Team USA in scoring with five goals, while Rachel Fattal scored four. Ashleigh Johnson made 12 saves.

Team USA plays the Netherlands in Saturday’s semifinals at 2:40 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

— From staff reports

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Lions land recruits

Fresh off a NAIA World Series appearance, Vanguard University baseball has signed three incoming freshman recruits, including prolifically productive Daniel Luckett.

Luckett, a catcher and four-year varsity starter at Foothill Christian High in El Cajon, amassed 114 runs batted in, 12 home runs, 56 extra-base hits and a cumulative .424 batting average in 337 career at-bats. He was also successful in all 64 of his stolen-base attempts and scored 132 runs in his prep career.

Luckett, who hit .450 with seven homers, eight triples, five doubles, 38 RBIs, 45 runs and 15 steals, while slugging .870 as a senior, was named first-team All-Ocean League three times, and was a second-team honoree as a freshman.

Also signed to join Coach Rob Pegg’s Lions are incoming freshmen infielders Sam Neufeld and Hunter White.

Neufeld, out of Xavier Prep in Palm Desert, was a second-team all-league pick as a senior, when he hit .393 with 33 hits, 14 RBIs and 10 stolen bases and was 3-4 with a 3.18 earned-run average as a pitcher.

White, out of Sheldon High in Sacramento, won one Delta League batting title and was twice an all-league performer. As a senior, he hit .320 with 17 RBIs and eight doubles and was 2-0 with one save an a 3.83 ERA on the mound.

— From staff reports