All six Catholic school teams representing the Los Angeles Archdiocese and Orange Diocese in the Southern California Regional Girls’ Volleyball Playoffs advanced to the next round after winning their first-round games this week.
The advance was led by Mater Dei and Marymount, the CIF-SS Division 1 champions and runners-up, who won their Open Division matches on Nov. 16. Second-seeded Mater Dei (35-5) eliminated Cathedral Catholic of San Diego, 25-14, 25-13, 25-18, while third-seeded Marymount (31-8) downed Central of Fresno, 25-16, 25-20, 25-12.
The Monarchs and Sailors will now meet for the third time this season in the Regional semifinals on Nov. 21, 7 p.m. in Santa Ana. Marymount won a non-league regular season match, but Mater Dei triumphed in the Southern Section final on Nov. 11.
In other first round Regional games played Nov. 15:
Division I: Santa Margarita (30-9), No. 1 seed, beat Palisades, 25-18, 25-16, 25-17. The Eagles host eighth-seeded Santiago of Corona (32-6), Big VIII League champion, in Round 2.
Division II: La Salle (28-6), No. 2 seed, defeated Bakersfield Christian, 25-17, 25-21, 25-10. The Lancers host seventh-seeded Del Norte of San Diego (23-14), Palomar League co-champion, in Round 2.
Division III: St. Paul (27-10), No. 2 seed, outlasted Ontario Christian in the first round of the Division III, 25-18, 25-22, 18-25, 25-14. The Swordsmen, the CIF-SS Division 5 winner, play tenth seeded Loma Linda Academy (23-2), Ambassador League winner, in Round 2.
Division III: Fourth-seeded La Reina (32-7) beat San Pedro, 25-20, 25-23, 25-14, on Nov. 15. The Regents host third-seeded Mission Oak of Tulare (33-8), East Yosemite League champion, in Round 2.
Round 2 games in these divisions are scheduled Nov. 18, 6 p.m. Regional semifinals in all divisions are scheduled Nov. 21, Regional finals (Northern and Southern California) on Nov. 25, and state championships on Dec. 2.
Winter sports begin
Boys’ and girls’ basketball and boys’ and girls’ soccer all begin regular season play during Thanksgiving Week, followed by girls’ water polo in early December. Initial CIF-SS polls for all sports are expected to be released soon.
