WATER POLO: U.S. shuts down Netherlands at Junior World Championships

For the third consecutive match, Harvard-Westlake of Studio City junior Ashley Grossman scored for the U.S. women's junior national water polo team.

But the defensive effort of Alemany of Mission Hills graduate Erin Manke and the rest of the Americans was the story Tuesday at the eighth FINA Junior World Championships, as the U.S. held the Netherlands scoreless for a stretch of more than 20 minutes, including the entire second half, resulting in 10-4 pool-play victory in Khanty-Mansisyk, Russia.

The Americans' victory, combined with Russia's 32-3 win over Brazil, meant the Americans took second in Group D behind Russia and the Netherlands finished third. Russia gets a bye until Thursday's championship quarterfinals. The U.S. plays Wednesday against South Africa -- third place in Group C -- and the Netherlands will also play Wednesday against Group C runner-up New Zealand.

The winner of the U.S./South Africa match takes on Group B winner Australia in Thursday's quarterfinals.

Stanford-bound Annika Dries led the Americans with three goals and UCLA signees Emily Greenwood and Brooke Martin combined for three goals for the U.S., which also received two goals from Monte Vista of Danville junior Maggie Steffens.

Dos Pueblos of Goleta senior goalkeeper Sami Hill played the entire match in goal and junior teammate Kiley Neushel also scored for the Americans. After the Netherlands cut the deficit to 5-4 with 4:30 remaining in the second quarter, Hill and the U.S. shut the Dutch down the rest of the way.