3 County Volleyball Teams Are Top-Seeded in Playoffs

The Southern Section girls’ volleyball playoff pairings were announced Sunday at the section office and three Orange County teams received top seedings in their divisions.

Playoff matches begin Tuesday and the section finals are scheduled for Nov. 21 and 22 at Long Beach State and Cerritos College. The finalists in each division will qualify for the state playoffs, which conclude Dec. 6.

Mater Dei (16-1), whose only loss was to Northern California power San Jose Archbishop Mitty, is top-seeded in Division I-A. Santa Margarita (Division II-AA) and Corona del Mar (Division III-AA) also earned top seedings.

In Division I-AA, Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (16-2) is top-seeded and earned a first-round bye along with second-seeded Newport Harbor (16-2) and third-seeded Laguna Beach (14-4).

In Division I-A, fourth-seeded Fountain Valley (14-2) could meet top-seeded Mater Dei in the semifinals. Marina (13-2), co-champion of the Sunset League with Fountain Valley, is seeded third.

Top-seeded Santa Margarita (13-3), has a first-round bye, but will host the Trabuco Hills (8-7)-Villa Park (11-3) winner Thursday. Also Thursday, Century League co-champion Foothill (11-4) could meet Empire League champion Cypress (12-2).

In Division II-A, Valencia (13-3) is seeded third. Second-seeded Lakewood St. Joseph (13-3) will play all Orange County opponents at least until the semifinals.

The county has the top-three seeded teams in Division III-AA: top-seeded Corona del Mar (9-7), second-seeded La Habra (11-3) and third-seeded El Modena (15-1). In Division III-A, Ocean View (13-1) is seeded second.

St. Margaret’s (13-3) is seeded fourth in Division V-AA.

Calvary Chapel (10-4), the Olympic League co-champion, is unseeded in Division IV-AA. The Eagles reached the Division IV-A section and Division IV state finals last season.

* COMPLETE PAIRINGS: C19