The CIF Southern Section released its playoff brackets for girls’ volleyball last weekend, with four Long Beach teams earning a berth into this year’s postseason.
Long Beach Poly are the reigning CIF-SS Division 3 champions but moved up a division this year and will try to grab another ring alongside Wilson, Millikan and Lakewood; all four schools open the playoffs this week.
Click here for all the CIF-SS brackets
Long Beach Poly (Division 2)
The Moore League champion Jackrabbits (25-9, 12-0) continue their climb in their third season under head coach Gerald Aquiningoc. The Jackrabbits claimed an undefeated league championship and, a year after winning the Division 3 title, they’re also claiming a spot in the top half of Division 2. Poly will open up at home Tuesday evening at 6pm against Yorba Linda (20-9). The Mustangs are the three-seed out of the Crestview League.
If the Jackrabbits advance they’ll face the winner of Corona Centennial and Beaumont in the second round on Thursday evening, and would be on the road no matter which opponent they get.
Wilson (Division 3)
The Bruins (23-13, 10-2) finished as runner-ups in the Moore League after a pair of losses to the Jackrabbits, but Wilson has a strong roster that includes arguably the best player in the Division 3 bracket in Stanford commit Simrin Adams. Wilson will open up at home on Wednesday at 6pm against Trabuco Hills (13-13).
If the Bruins advance they’ll face the winner of Cypress and Riverside Poly on Saturday; they’d be on the road for either match.
Millikan (Division 3)
The Rams (23-10, 8-4) are the recipients of one of the occasional new quirks of the CIF-SS competitive equity format, where teams are ranked by computer and then put into divisions with similarly-ranked teams. Millikan lost twice to Wilson but enter the Division 3 playoffs ranked higher than the Bruins, and will start the playoffs at home Wednesday as the No. 2 seed in the D3 playoffs.
The Rams’ opening match at 6pm Wednesday is against Summit (21-3), the league champs from the Sunkist League. If Millikan wins they’d face the winner of Hemet and Village Christian on Saturday–they’d be on the road for either match.
Lakewood (Division 6)
Lakewood got a big run in the playoffs and into the state bracket last year and will look to do the same this year. The Lancers (11-21, 6-6) lost their matches with the three teams above them in the Moore League–but those teams are now three divisions above under the new competitive equity format. Against competition ranked at their level, the Lancers were much more successful this year and will look to keep that up in the playoffs.
The Lancers open on the road at Woodcrest Christian on Tuesday at 7pm. A win would give them the winner of Providence and Rim of the World on Saturday, with either opponent having to travel to Lakewood.