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The Palo Alto and Gunn boys' water polo teams had it easy in the opening round of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs on Tuesday, but things get much tougher from here.

The No. 6-seeded Vikings (16-13) will face No. 3 Menlo-Atherton (13-11) in the quarterfinals on Saturday while the No. 7-seeded Titans (16-12) will take on No. 2 Bellarmine (17-9).

Palo Alto cruised to a 14-4 opening-round win over No. 11 Pioneer (13-15) behind four goals by Nelson Perla-Ward. The Vikings had a balanced scoring effort in addition to clearing their bench, even giving players brought up from the frosh-soph team for the playoffs some pool time.

Gunn (16-12)advanced with an 18-8 romp over Lynbrook at Los Gatos High as freshman Ari Wayne poured in five goals and junior Michael Znidarsic added four. Sophomore Coby Wayne and senior Tyler Wilson each contributed three goals.

In Division II, defending champion and No. 2 seed Menlo School will face No. 7 Aptos on Saturday while No. 1 seed Sacred Heart Prep will take on No. 9 Carmel.

Girls' tennis
Fourth-seeded Menlo School (18-4) and No. 7 Sacred Heart Prep (16-5) will get their postseasons under way Wednesday by hosting second-round CCS matches at 2:30 p.m.

The Knights will play Milpitas, a 13-3 winner over Salinas, while the Gators will take on WBAL rival Harker, a 13-5 winner over Santa Catalina.

The playoffs feature a new format this season, three singles and three doubles playing in round-robin fashion. A total of 18 points is possible.

Girls' volleyball
Eighth-seeded Gunn advanced to the quarterfinals of the CCS Division I playoffs following a 21-25, 25-13, 23-25, 25-18, 15-11 victory over No. 9 Leland on Tuesday night in the Titans' gym. Gunn (15-19) will visit top-seeded Palo Alto (30-3), the defending CIF Division I state champion, on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Vikings swept the Titans during their two SCVAL De Anza Division matches, as Gunn finished 1-11 in league while Paly finished 12-0.

Senior Julia Maggioncalda led Gunn with 14 kills while Julia Li added 18 digs. Nikita Johri finished with 23 assists and Alyn Shen added 22. Gunn had a distinct height advantage with 6-foot-5 Allison Doerpinghaus, 6-3 Lena Latour, 6-1 freshman Meghan Mahoney and 6-0 Molly McAdam rotating throughout the match. Mahoney produced nine kills in her first CCS match.

CCS GIRLS' TENNIS
First round
Leland d. Aragon, 10-8
Piedmont Hills d. Alisal, 13-5
Harker d. Santa Catalina, 13-5
Carlmont d. R.L. Stevenson, 12-6
Carmel d. Aptos,13-5
Milpitas d. Salinas, 13-3
Homestead d. Leigh, 11-7
St. Ignatius d. Evergreen Valley, 12-6

Second round (Wednesday, Nov. 9)
All matches at 2:30 p.m.
Harker (13-4) at No. 7 Sacred Heart Prep (16-5)
Milpitas (19-1) at No. 4 Menlo School (18-4)
Leland (14-3) vs. No. 6 St. Francis (14-5) at Cuesta Park
Piedmont Hills (9-7) vs. No. 3 Mitty (16-2) at Decathlon Club
Carlmont (13-5) at No. 2 Saratoga (16-3)
Carmel (18-3) at No. 5 Burlingame (16-3)
Homestead (15-7) at No. 8 Lynbrook (13-4)
St. Ignatius (15-7) at No. 1 Monta Vista (21-0)

Quarterfinals (Friday, Nov. 11)
At higher seed sites, 2:30 p.m.

CCS DIVISION I VOLLEYBALL
First round (Tuesday, Nov. 8)
Gunn d. Leland
Homestead d. Independence
Monta Vista d. San Benito
North Salinas d. Santa Teresa

Quarterfinals (Thursday, Nov. 10)
All matches at 7 p.m.
Gunn (15-19) at No. 1 Palo Alto (30-3)
Homestead (16-15) at No. 4 Salinas (21-8)
Monta Vista (16-16) at No. 2 Menlo-Atherton (27-5)
North Salinas (23-12) at No. 3 Carlmont (24-9)

Semifinals (Thursday, Nov. 17)
At Milpitas High

CCS Division IV VOLLEYBALL
First round (Tuesday, Nov. 8)
All matches at 7 p.m.
Mercy-SF d. King City
Santa Catalina d. Mercy-Burlingame
Harbor d. Harker
Notre Dame-Salinas d. Seaside
Monte Vista Christian (20-5) vs. Carmel not reported

Quarterfinals (Thursday, Nov. 10)
All matches at 7 p.m.
Mercy SF at No. 3 Menlo School (23-7)
Santa Catalina at No. 2 Soquel
Harbor vs. Notre Dame-Salinas (site to be determined)
Monte Vista Christian-Carmel winner at No. 1 Sacred Heart Prep (21-6)

Semifinals (Wednesday, Nov. 16
At Menlo School

CCS DIVISION V VOLLEYBALL
Quarterfinals (Thursday, Nov. 10)
All matches at 7 p.m.
No. 7 St. Thomas More (18-10) at No. 2 Castilleja (17-14)
No. 8 Alma Heights (11-12) at No. 1 Priory (23-4)
No. 5 Crystal Springs (13-11) at No. 4 Anzar (19-10)
No. 6 Pacific Collegiate (15-7) at No. 3 Mt. Madonna (12-14)

Semifinals (Thursday, Nov. 17)
Matches at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
At Alma Heights (Pacifica)
Pacific Collegiate-Mt. Madonna winner vs. Castilleja-St. Thomas More winner
Priory-Alma Heights winner vs. Crystal Springs-Anzar winner

2011 CCS BOYS' WATER POLO
Division I
First round
Gunn 18, Lynbrook 8
Palo Alto 14, Pioneer 4
Mountain View 16, San Benito 7
Serra 10, Monta Vista 9

Quarterfinals (Saturday, Nov. 12)
No. 6 Palo Alto (16-13) vs. No. 3 Menlo-Atherton (13-11)
No. 7 Gunn (16-12) vs. No. 2 Bellarmine (17-9)
No. 5 Mountain View (21-7) vs. No. 4 Leland (22-4)
No. 8 Serra (11-15) vs. No. 1 St. Francis (19-5)

Division II
First round (Tuesday, Nov. 8)
Valley Christian 10, Willow Glen 4
Mitty 18, Terra Nova 4
Aptos 15, Burlingame 10
Carmel 12, Sobrato 3

Quarterfinals (Saturday, Nov. 12)
No. 6 Valley Christian (15-9) vs. No. 3 Los Altos (18-5)
No. 7 Aptos (16-9) vs. No. 2 Menlo School (16-8)
No. 5 Mitty (10-14) vs. No. 4 Soquel (15-8)
No. 9 Carmel (16-9) vs. No. 1 Sacred Heart Prep (16-10)

— Palo Alto Online Sports

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