There is a familiar name and two newcomers among the Inland girls water polo teams that have advanced to the championship round of the 2025 CIF Southern Section playoffs.

All seven section championship matches are today and for the second consecutive season will be contested at the Mt. San Antonio College Aquatic Center in Walnut.

Murrieta Valley takes on Downey for the Division 2 championship at 4:30 p.m. This is the program’s eighth appearance in the finals, and the Nighthawks are 6-1 in previous championship matches.

Bryan Lynton has guided all of those teams, and a seventh championship would move Lynton one behind Santa Barbara’s Mark Walsh for most titles by a girls water polo coach in section history.

Murrieta Valley (20-11, No. 3 seed) reached the finals by beating Dana Hills, Redondo and El Segundo. Juniors Kaili Boyer and Grace Boyer and sophomore River Elliott combined for seven goals in a 9-4 win over El Segundo in the semis, while goalie Britton Fleenor had 11 saves.

The Boyer twins are 2 of 4 players on this year’s squad that also were part of Murrieta Valley’s Division 2 championship team in 2023. The Nighthawks beat Downey in the semifinals en route to winning that title.

Downey (22-4, No. 4 seed) advanced to the finals by knocking off Edison, Woodbridge and top-seeded El Toro. The program has won two titles (2005 and 2006) in its previous three trips to the finals.

Elsinore is playing for a section title for the first time. The top-seeded Tigers (25-1) face fellow championship game debutante Flintridge Sacred Heart (13-10) in the Division 3 title match at 6 p.m.

Elsinore advanced to the championship match in dominant fashion, beating Schurr, Pasadena Poly and La Canada by a combined score of 53-26. The Tigers are led on offense by seniors Raygan Carroll and Yalissa Tellez, junior Morgan Brett and freshman Addisyn Dwelley. Freshman Bella Drake will be in the cage for Elsinore.

Flintridge Sacred Heart is the No. 3-seeded team in the bracket and reached the finals with wins over Flintridge Prep, Portola and second-seeded Long Beach Poly. The Tologs are led by senior Marisol Cowles and junior Lily Waggoner, who combined for 11 goals in the 14-9 win over Long Beach Poly.

San Dimas got over the semifinal hump for the first time in program history. The No. 4-seeded Saints (20-8) will take on No. 6 seed Troy (16-12) in the Division 4 championship match at 9:30 a.m.

San Dimas advanced to the finals with wins over Westridge, Malibu and top-seeded Beaumont. Juniors Faith Kearns and Isabella Marroquin scored three goals apiece for the Saints in that 9-4 victory over Beaumont, and sophomore goalie Madison Curtis had 11 saves.

Troy has reached the finals for the second straight season and fourth time in program history. The Warriors were the Division 5 runners-up last season. Troy advanced to this year’s title match with wins over Roosevelt, Upland and Yucaipa. Those three victories were by a combined four goals.