Boys’ Volleyball Playoffs Expanded to Five Divisions

The Southern Section Council agreed Thursday to expand the boys’ volleyball playoffs from three to five divisions, beginning this spring.

“Five divisions is good for boys’ volleyball,” said Dan Glenn, boys’ and girls’ volleyball coach at Newport Harbor High and a member of the advisory committee proposing the change. “We didn’t want it to be as watered down as girls’ volleyball [which has 10 divisions], but we wanted to be as fair as we could to small schools.”

During its meeting in Buena Park, the council also approved a recommendation that the state office continue to develop criteria for adding state championship events. State championships take place in cross-country, basketball, track and field, wrestling and girls’ volleyball. A section spokesman said the state is considering adding boys’ volleyball, golf and swimming.

The council also approved limiting wrestlers to a maximum of 40 matches before the start of their league tournaments.