The Malibu High girls’ water polo team won their semifinal playoff game against Chadwick on Wednesday, 10-7. Senior Searra Silverberg, who has led the Sharks all season, was held to one goal by an aggressive Chadwick defense, forcing other Malibu players to step up. Junior Reilley Lippman finished with three goals, and juniors Gianna Fote, Jennifer Tartavull, and senior Katie Rollins each contributed two goals. Silverberg finished with seven steals, and Lippman and Tartavull each had five of their own.
After the game, the entire Malibu team was flush with emotion.
“I don’t think there are words to describe this feeling,” Silverberg said. “We’ve worked for seven months for [the championship] game, and I’m just speechless. I was pressed the whole game, and girls stepped up and scored their season highs, and we haven’t played like that all season. That was a different level of water polo.”
With the victory, the Sharks advance to the CIF finals, taking on Bonita on Saturday at 10:45 at the William Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine.