After going undefeated in Channel League play during the regular season and dominating the league tournament, Santa Barbara High will open the CIF-SS Division 3 boys water polo playoffs with a home match.
The Dons (21-9) are one of four local teams that earned postseason berths. Santa Barbara will host Rio Mesa (15-11), the second-place finisher from the Pacific League at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
Joining Santa Barbara in the Division 3 bracket is San Marcos. The Royals (17-14), third place in the Channel League, will travel down to Ventura for its first-round match at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The Cougars (18-7) finished the season as the Pacific View League champion.
The two teams met earlier this season, with Ventura traveling to San Marcos High and handing them a 16-15 overtime loss.
Dos Pueblos (14-12), who finished in second place in the Channel League, will be in the Division 2 bracket. The Chargers open on the road at Santa Ana-Foothill on Thursday for a 5 p.m. match. Foothill (18-8) is the champion of the Crestview League.
Finally, in Division 4, Carpinteria (12-11), the runners-up of the Citrus Coast league, will travel to Millikan High (16-9), runners up from the Moore League, for a match at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Second round matches for winners who advance in Divisions 3 and 4 will be played on Thursday while winners in the Division 2 bracket will advance to the quarterfinals which begin on Saturday.
Division 3 and 4 brackets have 32 teams while Division 2 has 16 teams.
email: jmercado@newspress.com
