Boys’ volleyball: Loyola leads Catholic schools into CIF-SS playoffs

First-roundrnaction in the CIF-Southern Section boys’ volleyball playoffs begins May 8 withrnseveral local Catholic schools primed to compete for titles, including six leaguernchampions.

Leadingrnthe list is Mission League winner Loyola (21-1), the second-ranked team in thernU.S., California and CIF-SS Division 1 — in each case, trailing Newport Harborrn(28-0). The Cubs fell short in last year’s D-1 tournament, but rallied to winrnthe Southern California Regional Division I tournament.

Otherrnleague champions competing in the 2018 tournament include Mater Dei (Trinity),rnBishop Montgomery (Del Rey), St. Anthony (Camino Real), Providence/Burbankrn(Liberty) and St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (Santa Fe).

Wildrncard matches in Divisions 2 to 4 were played May 5, and on May 7 in D-5.rnTournament play continues through May 19, followed by the SoCal Regionals. Herernis a division-by-division look at the tournament, with league finish in parentheses:

Division 1: Loyola, which ranked third much of thernyear in the CIF-SS poll, rose to second in the latest poll. Alemany (25-2-1)rnwas sixth, with both losses at the ends of Loyola in the tough Mission League.rnMater Dei (21-5) ranked eighth on its way to the Trinity League title.

Firstrnround: Loyola (Mission No. 1) vs. San Marcos (Channel No. 3); Mater Deirn(Trinity No. 1) vs. Palos Verdes (Bay No. 3); Servite (Trinity at-large) vs. ElrnSegundo (Ocean No. 1); Alemany (Mission No. 2) vs. Oak Park (Coastal Canyon No.rn1); Santa Margarita (Trinity No. 2) vs. Trabuco Hills (Seaview No. 1).

Division 2: Bishop Montgomery (19-9) made arnlate-season move into the top 10 and won the Del Rey League title.

Firstrnround: Bishop Montgomery vs. Crescenta Valley (Pacific No. 4); Bishop Diegorn(Tri-Valley No. 2) vs. Valencia (Foothill No. 2); St. Francis (Mission No. 3)rnvs. San Gabriel (Almont No. 1)

Division 3: Damien (25-8) tied for the HaciendarnLeague title at 6-2 with Claremont. The teams split their two matches, but Claremontrnwon more sets (5-4).

Firstrnround: Damien (Hacienda No. 2) vs. Cerritos (Suburban No. 1); Paraclete (GoldrnCoast No. 3, a wild-card winner over Paso Robles on May 5) vs. Bolsa Grandern(Garden Grove No. 1).

Division 4: La Salle (20-6) defeated St. Anthonyrn(22-4) in their May 1 rematch, after the Camino Real League leaders had battledrnfor the top two spots in the weekly rankings for the last half of the regularrnseason. Providence (16-5) won the Liberty League.

Firstrnround: St. Anthony (Camino Real No. 1) vs. Garden Grove (Garden Grove No. 3);rnLa Salle (Camino Real No. 2) vs. Rio Hondo (Prep No. 3); St. Monica (Del ReyrnNo. 2) vs. Santa Fe (Del Rio No. 2); St. Genevieve (Camino Real No. 3) vs.rnLoara (Golden West No. 1); Providence/Burbank (Liberty No. 1) vs. Highlandrn(Golden No. 3); Bishop Amat (Del Rey No. 3, a wild card winner over CitrusrnValley) vs. San Marino (Rio Hondo co-champ).

Division 5: Despite a 9-15 overall record, St. PiusrnX-St. Matthias Academy won the Santa Fe League title.

Wildrncard (May 7): St. Monica Academy (International No. 2) vs. Milken Communityrn(Liberty No. 3). First Round: St. Bernard (Santa Fe No. 2) vs. Rancho Christianrn(South Valley No. 2); St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (Santa Fe No. 1) vs. wildrncard winner.

Last season: Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks won the D-2rnCIF-SS title, and Bishop Montgomery was runner-up in D-3. In the So CalrnRegional tournament, Loyola captured the Division I crown, and Notre Dame wasrnDivision II runner-up.