Local high school girls water polo teams once again showcased the strength of the Santa Barbara area water polo scene during the 2025-26 regular season.
As a result, four local squads will begin their quests for CIF-SS titles next week, and their playoff divisions and first-round matchups were released on Friday.
San Marcos (Open Division)
The Royals put together a dominant regular season, going 22-6 and rolling to their fifth straight Channel League title. As a result, they were slotted into the top division in the Southern Section, and likely the nation, as the No. 5 seed of eight teams.
San Marcos was placed into Pool A for its playoff run, where it will face off with Mater Dei (No. 1 seed), Orange Lutheran (No. 4 seed) and Long Beach Wilson (No. 8 seed).
The Royals will be on the road for their first two playoff contests as they take on Orange Lutheran on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 5 p.m. and Mater Dei on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 5 p.m.
They will then round out pool play at home against Long Beach Wilson on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 5 p.m.
The top three teams of each pool will advance, with the winners of each pool earning an automatic spot in the semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Woollett Aquatics Center.
Should San Marcos reach the championship game, it will compete on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Mt. San Antonio College.
Dos Pueblos (Division 1)
The Chargers finished as the Channel League runner-ups to the Royals, earning their spot as the No. 4 seed in the CIF-SS Div. 1 playoff bracket.
Dos Pueblos will open its playoff run at home when it hosts Marlborough High on Friday, Feb. 6, at 5 p.m. at Elings Aquatics Center.
Marlborough went 11-15 in the regular season, but finished atop the Mission League standings. When these two teams met in early December, the Chargers came away with the 11-8 win at home.
Santa Barbara High (Division 2)
The Dons, who placed fourth overall in the Channel League and third in the league tournament, found plenty of success in the regular season with a 23-8 overall record. With that track record, they were awarded the top seed in the Div. 2 playoffs.
Santa Barbara High will now roll out the welcome mats for Riverside Poly in its first-round matchup on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 5 p.m.
Riverside Poly captured the Ivy League championship during the regular season with an overall record of 15-9. The Dons and Riverside Poly did not clash in the regular season.
Carpinteria High (Division 2)
The Citrus Coast League champion Warriors, who went 17-9 this season, rounded out the local teams in the postseason as another CIF-SS Division 2 playoff squad.
The Warriors will hit the road for their playoff opener against Temple City on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 5 p.m.
Temple City won the Rio Hondo League with its record of 19-9 this season.