Men’s volleyball season begins Saturday, February 19 – Orange County Register

The boys’ high school volleyball season begins on Saturday, February 19.

Here are updates on teams, players, events, plus key dates for the season.

Men’s volleyball

Beginning part: Saturday, February 19

Overview: The CIF Southern Section “watchlist” for Divisions 1 and 2 teams includes Orange County teams Beckman, Corona del Mar, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Mater Dei, Newport Harbor, Orange Lutheran, San Clemente , Servite and Tesoro. At the end of the season, eight teams from the 44-team pool of Divisions 1 and 2 will be selected to play in Divisions for the knockout stages.

Last season’s Division 1 knockout round featured eight teams including Corona del Mar, Mater Dei, Newport Harbor, Orange Lutheran and San Clemente. Port of Newport lost to Mira Costa in the Division 1 final. Huntington Beach advanced to the Division 2 final, in which the Oilers lost to Santa Barbara. Marina won the Division 4 championship. La Quinta lost the Division 5 final. Capistrano Valley Christian defeated Orange in the Division 6 final.

Marina has moved to the 1st and 2nd teams for this season. Capistrano Valley Christian is a Division 4 team.

The Port of Newport may have Orange County’s top contender for the Division 1 championship, with Loyola possibly the favorite. The Sailors brought in two All-CIF players, senior midfield blocking midfielder James Eadie and junior opposite attacker Jack Read.

Huntington Beach outsider Leo Phinizy was an All-CIF last season as was Ryan Graves, Beckman’s junior player. Tetairoa McMillen was an All-CIF at Servite last season as a senior, but he graduated early and is attending the University of Arizona, where he will be playing football. All CIF picks Isaac Seltzer and Bryce Tallman return at Foothill. Andrew Sheveland and Kai Taylor were All-CIFs as juniors last season at Capistrano Valley Christian.

Important day: Redondo Preseason Tournament at Redondo Union High School, February 25-26; Huntington Beach at Newport Harbor, March 10; Corona del Mar at the Port of Newport, March 23; Servite at Mater Dei, March 25; CIF Southern Section playoffs begin April 26; CIF-SS Finals, May 14; CIF Southern California Region, May 17, 19, and 21.