Mira Costa's boys water polo team opens the CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) Division 1 playoffs as the No. 1 seed Friday, hosting San Juan Hills at 5 p.m.
The Mustangs (21-10) earned the top seed after winning the Bay League title, according to the Daily Breeze. San Juan Hills enters at 14-13. The top eight teams were placed in the Open Division. Division 1 has a 16-team bracket, while Divisions 2 through 5 have 32-team brackets.
A day later, Redondo Union's girls volleyball team hits the road for a Division 2 semifinal at San Juan Hills. That match is set for 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Sea Hawks (21-11) punched their semifinal ticket Oct. 27 by knocking off No. 1 seed Newport Harbor in five sets, as we reported Oct. 28. Seniors Abbie Hairrell, Sienna Castillo and Leah Blair led the comeback from a 2-1 deficit, according to Patch.
San Juan Hills (21-12) advanced by sweeping Corona Centennial 25-22, 25-18, 25-20 in the quarterfinals Oct. 27, the Orange County Register reported. The Stallions feature junior outside hitter Megan Hodges, a Nebraska commit ranked among the nation's top players in the class of 2028. Hodges had a team-high 16 kills in the quarterfinal win.
The two teams have not played each other this season, according to the Register.
Redondo coach Lacey Minzlaff's squad showed grit during Bay League play. In an October loss to Mira Costa, Mira Costa coach Nicole Roueche praised the Sea Hawks' defense. "They weren't letting easy balls fall for us, and then they were taking aggressive swings," Roueche told the Daily Breeze.
Mira Costa's girls volleyball team (22-6) also plays Saturday, traveling to Sierra Canyon (31-1) for a Division 1 Pool B match at 4:30 p.m.
