It’s Channel vs. Bay in CIF 1-AA volleyball openers

Dos Pueblos and Santa Barbara, winners of the last two CIF-Southern Section girls volleyball championships, begin their quest to bring home another title with first-round home matches against teams from the same league.

The Channel League-champion Chargers host at-large team Palos Verdes (16-13) from the Bay League while the Dons take on Peninsula, the Bay’s No. 3 playoff entry (16-12), Tuesday in Division 1-AA openers. First serve is 7 p.m.

In Division 4-AA, Laguna Blanca, the 2009 runner-up, received the No. 2 seeding and a first-round bye. The Condor League champions (12-2) will play either Twentynine Palms or Chino in the second round on Thursday at home.

Cate (10-3, Condor League No. 3) plays a first-round match on Tuesday at Westminster (8-9, Golden West No. 2). The winner travels to third-seeded Serra.

St. Margaret’s is the top-seeded team in 4-AA.

CIF PLAYOFF DRAWS
DIV. I-AA
DIV. IV-AA
DIV. V-A

Providence Hall qualified for CIF in Division V-A as a freelance school, reaching the postseason in the school’s first year playing a CIF schedule. The Lions (9-7) will travel to Saint Monica Academy, winner of the International League, on Tuesday.

Dos Pueblos (20-8) is the defending 1-AA champion. The Chargers lost the bulk of their championship squad but they’ve kept the winning beat going with players like Nicki Brown and twin sisters Tristan and Taylor Racich.

Dos Pueblos is drawn into the same half of the bracket as top-ranked Harvard Westlake. The two schools would meet in the quarterfinals.

Santa Barbara (20-9) faces a tougher draw. If the Dons get past Peninsula, they would travel to second-seeded Long Beach Poly.

Santa Barbara is led by USC-bound outside hitter Eve Ettinger, Dani Rottman and Holland Crenshaw. The Dons won the CIF title in 2008 and reached the semifinals last year.