As expected, Whittier Christian drew the No. 1 seed for the upcoming CIF-SS Division 2A playoffs when the pairings were released Saturday, and two other area teams earned top-four seeds as well.
The Heralds are 27-7 overall and went unbeaten in the Olympic League. On Tuesday, they’ll open the playoffs against either Westridge or Channel Islands. Whittier Christians won the Division 2AA championship last season.
In 3AA, Del Rio League champion La Serna earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. The Lancers will play the winner of a first-round game between La Mirada and Santa Monica at home on Thursday.
La Serna closed Del Rio League play last week with a convincing 25-7, 25-7, 25-12 victory over Whittier, and the Lancers enter the playoffs with plenty of momentum. La Serna had good success in tournament play during the season, and head coach Monique Gayton looks at the playoffs as another tournament.
“The girls are excited about CIF and so am I,” she said. “We’re looking forward to this last tournament of the season.”
Camino Real League champion St. Paul is seeded No. 3 in Division 3AA, and the Swordsmen earned a first-round bye. On Thursday, they’ll play either Connelly or Twentynine Palms. Last season, Connelly eliminated St. Paul in the second round.
“I don’t really care who we face,” said St. Paul coach John Van Deventer. “I have a lot of confidence in our kids. Just get us to the court.”
Cal, Pioneer and Whittier from the Del Rio League also made the 3AA playoffs and open play Tuesday. In Division 2A, La Habra will visit Elsinore on Tuesday, and Camino Real League runner-up Cantwell-Sacred Heart will visit Magnolia Tuesday in Division 4AA. In Division 3A, Almont League runner-up Schurr will the long bus ride to Templeton.