FALL PLAYOFFS: SWEEPING INTO THE SEMIFINALS : ROYAL, CALABASAS TO HOST GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL MATCHES TONIGHT.

Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer

The Royal High girls' volleyball team has yet to lose a game in the playoffs after sweeping Santa Barbara in the quarterfinals Saturday. The win advanced the Highlanders (29-4) to a Division I-A semifinal matchup with Buena tonight at home.

Calabasas also continued its sweep through the postseason with a three-game win over Rosary to set up tonight's match against Ocean View. The Coyotes host the Division II-AA semifinal.

La Reina suffered its first loss of the season Saturday as a five-game loss at Marymount ended the Lancers' season. Westlake was also eliminated with a four-game loss to Gahr.

Tennis: Westlake looks to continue its perfect season when the Warriors host Garden Grove today at 2 p.m. The Warriors (20-0) didn't lose a set in Saturday's second-round win against Gahr.

Simi Valley's doubles team of Rebecca Hunau and Stella Chu improved to 63-0 to help the Pioneers (18-4) beat Los Alomitos 10-8 Saturday. Simi Valley hosts Peninsula today.

Sweeps by Shervin Saedina and Brittany Birman led Calabasas' 16-2 second-round win over El Modina. The Coyotes play at South Pasadena today.

Water polo: Agoura and Royal weren't impressive Friday in the opening round of the Division IV playoffs, but they were both good enough to advance to Wednesday's second round.

``They were real nervous,'' said Royal coach Steve Snyder, who noted seniorRyan Apperson is the only Highlander with postseason experience. ``They made a lot of mistakes. I hope we got the jitters worked out (Friday) because we're gonna have to be ready to step it up (Wednesday).''

The Highlanders (17-7) beat Cate 13-5, led by three goals each from Apperson and Derrick Anderson. Sophomore Justin McClure made his first start, filling in for an injured Ramiro Saldin, and scored twice. Royal hosts Santa Barbara in the second round.

Agoura defeated visiting Rio Mesa 18-10, but showed the effects of a week off.

``The kids were just a little rusty,'' said coach Jason Rosenthal, whose Chargers host Arroyo Grande on Wednesday.

Agoura held just a 3-1 lead against Rio Mesa at the end of the first quarter.

``They knew they were playing a third-place team from another league,'' Rosenthal said. ``They were looking to the future.''

Malibu (19-5) quickly ended Newbury Park's return to the playoffs by defeating the visiting Panthers 20-13 Friday. The win sets up a rematch of last year's first-round game with Ventura. Ventura, which earned a first-round bye as the No. 1 seed this season, beat the Sharks by one point last year.

The Sharks played one of their best defensive games and used a balanced offense, instead of relying on Kyle Strache to do everything. Strache scored five goals, but so did Ben Shieferstein. Morgan Matthies and Henry Stern both added three goals.

``It was the best they've played all year,'' Malibu coach Mike Mulligan said. ``I think they're pumped up and ready to play Ventura.''

THIS WEEK

TODAY Girls' volleyball playoffs: Buena at Royal, 7 p.m.; Ocean View at Calabasas, 7 p.m.

Girls' tennis playoffs: Simi Valley vs. Peninsula at Rancho Simi, 2 p.m.; Agoura at Laguna Hills, 2 p.m.; Calabasas at South Pasadena, 2 p.m.; Garden Grove vs. Westlake at North Ranch Country Club, 2 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Boys' water polo playoffs: Santa Barbara vs. Royal at Rancho Simi, 3:15 p.m.; Arroyo Grande at Agoura, 3:15 p.m.; Malibu at Ventura, 3:15 p.m.

THURSDAY

Girls' tennis playoffs: Southern Section team semifinals, 2 p.m.

FRIDAY

Prep football playoffs: Ventura at Newbury Park, 7:30 p.m.; Westlake at San Marcos, 7:30 p.m.; Lompoc at Thousand Oaks, 7:30 p.m.; Santa Barbara at Camarillo, 7:30 p.m.; Moorpark at Buena, 7:30 p.m.; Oak Park at Cerritos Valley Christian, 7:30 p.m.; Verbum Dei at Calabasas, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

Prep cross country: Southern Section finals at Mt. San Antonio College.

Boys' water polo playoffs: Division IV semifinals at UC Santa Barbara.

Girls' volleyball playoffs: Southern Section finals.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO (Color) Newbury Park's Blake Mallen looks to pass over Malibu's Henry Stern, who had three goals in the Sharks' victory.

John Lazar/Daily News

BOX: THIS WEEK (See text)