The Sac-Joaquin Section volleyball playoff brackets are out and if there's a theme, it's that the usual suspects look to be in prime position once again.
Defending Division II champion Oak Ridge grabbed the top seed in Division I as the Trojans moved up a division this year. Perennial power Rocklin is the top seed in D-II while three-time defending D-III champion St. Mary's of Stockton is tops in that division once again, as is four-time defending D-IV champion Christian Brothers.
For the first time in five years Nevada Union is not the top seed in Division I, instead the Miners grabbed the No. 11 seed and if they are to win their unprecedented eighth straight title must do it on the road, including a possible trip to No. 2 seed Napa, which took the Miners to the limit in last year's D-I final.
Click here for the D-I bracket
With its sweep of Nevada Union last night Rocklin won its second straight Sierra Foothill League title and vaulted itself to the top seed in D-II ensuring it home-court advantage until the Section finals at UC Davis.
St. Francis will be the No. 2 seed in D-II by way of an unblemished record in the Delta River League -- the ninth straight year the Troubadours have not dropped a match in league play. The Troubadours have a brutal road in front of them if they are to get back to the D-II final for the third straight year as they would face either seventh-seeded Roseville or No. 10 seed Ponderosa in the second round and possibly No. 6 seed Granite Bay or No. 3 seed Atwater in the semifinals.
Click here for the D-II bracket
Three-time defending champion St. Mary's of Stockton has the top seed in D-III. El Camino, which under first-year coach Martin Soyama swept through the Capital Athletic League with a 15-0 record, is the No. 3 seed while Del Oro, seeking just its second section championship and first in 30 years, holds the sixth seed.
Click here for the D-III bracket
Four-time defending champion Christian Brothers holds the top seed in D-IV but likely will have to go through perennial challengers Ripon (No. 3) and Golden Sierra (No. 5).
Click here for the D-IV bracket
Bradshaw Christian snatched the top seed in D-V while defending champion Ripon Christian, one of the most decorated schools in the section in terms of volleyball championships with 12, will be the No. 10 seed. Woodland Christian has the No. 5 seed but to get back to the section finals for the fifth time in seven years the Cardinals would have to go through the Pride in the semifinals, which would be a rematch from last year.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.