The Santa Barbara area boys volleyball regular season did not disappoint, as the Channel League race came down to the wire and there was plenty of talent across town.
With the regular season now in the rearview mirror, six local high school teams will now look ahead to the CIF-SS playoffs beginning next week. Here are their first-round matchups.
San Marcos (Div. 3)
The Royals enjoyed a stellar regular season under first-year head coach Dave Goss, going 20-9 and capturing an outright Channel League title over rivals Dos Pueblos and Santa Barbara.
As a result, San Marcos will open its playoff race at home, hosting Claremont inside the Thunderhut on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Claremont went 22-9 in the regular season and shared the Baseline League title.
Dos Pueblos (Div. 4)
The Chargers have had a strong year of their own, putting together a record of 17-6 and finishing the year in second place in the Channel League on their way to receiving a first-round bye in the Div. 4 playoffs.
Dos Pueblos will host either Westminster or Fontana on Saturday, May 3 at 6 p.m. inside Sovine Gym. Westminster went 23-5 and won the Orange Coast League, while Fontana is 26-4 and the winners of the Sunkist League.
Santa Barbara (Div. 4)
The Dons were slotted just behind Dos Pueblos in the Channel League standings after finishing the regular season with a 16-10 mark.
Santa Barbara High will also begin its playoff run at home, hosting Elsinore on Wednesday at 6 p.m. inside J.R. Richards Gym. Elsinore went 19-7 in the regular season and finished tied for first in the Mountain Pass League.
Bishop Diego (Div. 5)
The Cardinals finished the regular season with a 20-11 record, including an undefeated Tri-Valley League season to take home the league title and clinch a spot in the CIF-SS Div. 5 playoff bracket.
Bishop Diego will hit the road to take on Wiseburn DaVinci, who went 15-12 and earned an at-large bid from the Pioneer League, on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in El Segundo. The Cardinals fell in five sets to Wiseburn DaVinci in the regular season.
Laguna Blanca (Div. 6)
The Owls will also compete in the playoffs after a strong performance in the Tri-Valley League, finishing in second place and punching their ticket to the Div. 6 playoffs.
Laguna Blanca will head down to Riverside to take on Ramona High on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Ramona went 14-5 in the regular season and won the River Valley League.
Carpinteria (Div. 8)
The Warriors rounded out the local teams in the playoffs after going 12-12 to finish third in the Citrus Coast League and slot into the Div. 8 playoff bracket.
Carpinteria will roll out the welcome mats for Los Amigos on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Los Amigos snuck into the playoffs after going 6-12 and placing third in the Grove League.