Boys’ Volleyball: CdM leads way

For the second time in as many seasons, the Corona del Mar High boys’ volleyball team earned one of the top three seeds in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.

The Sea Kings learned they’re the No. 3 seed on Friday afternoon, when the section released the postseason pairings. Out of the four local programs in the playoffs, CdM received the highest seed in their respective divisions.

Newport Harbor returns to the postseason after missing it last season for the first time since 1985, while Costa Mesa is making its first playoff appearance in six years. Sage Hill is back in the playoffs for the 10th straight year.

Corona del Mar (24-6) opens first-round action at home against Trabuco Hills (20-12) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Sea Kings, the Pacific Coast League champions, face an at-large team from the South Coast League.

Last year, CdM advanced to the semifinals and Trabuco made the quarterfinals. Both teams lost to Los Angeles Loyola, which went on to reach the section finals for the fifth time in six years.

Also in Division 1, Newport Harbor (12-13) travels to No. 4 Newbury Park (21-3) for Tuesday’s first-round match at 7 p.m. The Sailors, who shared second place in the Sunset League, look to join Huntington Beach and Loyola, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, and Oak Park, the top seed in Division 2, as the only teams this year to beat Newbury Park, the Marmonte League champion.

Costa Mesa (13-4) plays host to Capistrano Valley (22-9-2) in a Division 2 opener on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Mustangs placed second in the Orange Coast League, while Capistrano Valley was second in the Sea View League.

Sage Hill (14-13), the third-place team from the Academy League, hits the road to La Cañada Flintridge Prep (20-5) for a Division 4 first-round contest on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Flintridge Prep finished first in the Prep League.