Here are the groups for this week’s Irvine Southern California girls water polo championships, the final major tournament of the regular season (runs Thursday through Saturday):
At Foothill
Foothill
El Toro
Montebello
Newport Harbor’s girls water polo team has its own Big Three when it comes to field players. And the three seniors delivered again Wednesday night.
Carly Christian and Elissia Schilling each scored three goals and Avery Peterson added two goals and three assists to help Newport Harbor’s No. 2 girls team open Sunset League play with an 11-5 victory against visiting No. 10 Edison.
The Sailors led, 10-2, after three periods.
Newport Harbor plays host The Bishop’s of La Jolla on Saturday at noon.
Here’s the semifinal schedule Saturday at Holiday Cup girls water polo tournament at Newport:
10:40 a.m. – Newport Harbor vs. Santa Barbara — two excellent counterattack teams with strong goalies
11:45 a.m. – Corona del Mar vs. Foothill – the top-two ranked teams in Orange County. The Sea Queens’ feature left-hander Ally McCormick, pictured left
The finals also are Saturday at Newport at 4:05 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Martin Klein
More girls water polo news from the OCVarsity blog:

All-County water polo attacker Curtis FinkĀ of Newport Harbor has committed to Princeton, he announced Tuesday.
Fink, a second-team All-County pick, pushed for first-team honors after racking up 56 goals, 50 steals and 22 steals in 2012.
He also drew a ton of ejections in establishing himself as one of the county’s most well-rounded players.
Fink is a very good get for Princeton, which has racked up some good recruits recently. From the class of 2012, the Tigers nabbed Jamie Kuprenas out of Loyola of Los Angeles and NorCal goalie Alex Gow among others.
Princeton finished third at the Eastern championships this past season.
Here’s what the insightful Fink said of his college decision:
“I dedicated myself to my studies in the classroom and work in the pool with the hopes of someday having this opportunity. Someday is today.
Newport Harbor All-County water polo player Dan Stevens has committed to Harvard, his father, Doug, confirmed Friday morning.
Stevens, a first-team All-County pick and the Sunset League MVP, joins El Toro’s Joey Colton in Harvard’s 2013 recruiting class.
And Stevens and Colton join forces with rising Harvard players Noah Harrison (Huntington Beach), Evan Ramsey (Corona del Mar) and Ben Zepfel (Corona del Mar).
It won’t be long until Harvard becomes an East Coast power. There will be a lot of talent in that pool.
“Harvard offers me the best opportunity to achieve both my academic and athletic goals at the highest levels,” Stevens said in an e-mail.Ā “I am excited to be a part of the program developed under the leadership of Coach Ted Minnis and I look forward to working towards a CWPA championship and berth in the NCAAs.ā
The classy Stevens also thanked his coaches — especially ex-Sailors coach Jason Lynch — for helping developing him as a player and person. Here’s what he wrote about coaches, and one of his teachers:
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Newport Harbor water polo center Elissia Schilling has signed with UCLA, her father, John, reports.
The Bruins have signed two excellent centers from Orange County today in Schilling and Mackenzie Barr of Mater Dei.
Last year, the Bruins signed defender Maddie McLaren of Newport Harbor among others in a strong O.C. class.
Please send water polo recruiting news to Dan Albano at dalbano@ocregister.com
Newport Harbor water polo center Elissia Schilling and defender Avery Peterson have made college commitments.
Schilling has committed to UCLA while Peterson has picked USC.
Both are two of the better players in Orange County at their positions.
Wednesday is the first day girls water polo players can sign a national letter of intent with a university.
Please send water polo recruiting news to Dan Albano at dalbano@ocregister.com
Laguna Beach left-handed water polo attacker Mackenzie Baldridge and Newport Harbor attacker Carly Christian have committed to UC Santa Barbara, their high school coaches report.
Baldridge racked up 40 goals and 30 assists last season while the speedy Christian collected 57 goals and 33 assists for the Division 1 champion Lady Sailors.
Christian’s brother, Myles, is a standout senior goalie at UC Santa Barbara.
The first day girls water polo players can sign is Wednesday.
Please send water polo recruiting news to Dan Albano at dalbano@ocregister.com
Because of home-field conflicts, two first-round playoff games will be played Thursday.
Southwest Division — Laguna Hills vs. Foothill at Tustin High (Tustin is home at its on-campus stadium Friday against El Dorado).
Southern — Anaheim vs. Corona del Mar at Newport Harbor High (Newport Harbor is home at its on-campus stadium Friday against Troy).
CIF-SS football playoff brackets revealed
More football news from the OCVarsity blog:

Newport Harbor water polo standout Dan Stevens has been diagnosed with a ruptured eardrum, his father, Doug, said in an e-mail Sunday morning, hours after the senior was injured against Mater Dei.
“The ear canal was swollen and the ear lobe split open,” Doug Stevens wrote in an e-mail.
Stevens will see a ear, nose and throat specialist and hopes to play in the Division 1 playoffs, which the Sailors open Wednesday against Servite.
“Dan’s goal is to be back in the water by Wednesday for the first CIF game,” Doug Stevens said. “He might be able to use a wax plug to keep the water out of the ear.”
Doug Stevens said an emergency room doctor said his son would have to be out of the water four to six weeks. Doug Stevens added that his family has been touched by the outpouring of support, which included a call Sunday from Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman.