South Advances in Volleyball Playoffs

South Torrance High used superior height and skills Thursday night to defeat Sonora of La Habra, 15-11, 15-5, 15-8, in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section 3-A Division girls’ volleyball playoffs at South.

Middle blocker Stephanie Pfau, a 5-foot-11 freshman, led South with eight stuff blocks and five aces, and outside hitter Jennifer Hughes, a 5-9 junior, had a team-high 11 kills and seven blocks.

Junior setter-outside hitter Sandy Rhodes added seven kills and four aces for the Spartans. Junior Heidi Emmrich paced the defense with eight digs.

“We dominated the whole time with our height, passing and serving,” South Coach Moira Fagan said. “(Sonora) really couldn’t get any offense going.”

The Spartans (13-4), making their first appearance in the playoffs, advance to the second round Saturday night, when they will face third-seeded El Modena of Anaheim (15-0). A coin flip today will determine the home team.

Sonora finished 17-8.

In the 5-A Division, defending state Division I champion Mira Costa opened the playoffs with a 15-4, 15-5, 15-13 victory over visiting Newport Harbor. The Mustangs (18-1) will play third-seeded Laguna Beach (21-4) in the quarterfinals Tuesday night at a site to be determined.

Mira Costa’s sophomore-dominated lineup proved too much for Newport Harbor, which finished with a 13-6 mark.