Regional Seeds Set for this Week in North and South

NORTH- Merced and Sierra were scheduled to play last week, but the game was never played. The Blue Devils said the game was canceled; the Wolverines scored it as a 5-0 forfeit. In any case, Sierra will take the top seed in Northern California into the playoffs, despite losing their only head-to-head match up of the year with Merced. The Wolverines will need to get past No. 8 seed and "A" conference rival Foothill to return to the state tournament and show why, pound for pound, the Wolverine is the most ferocious animal on the planet.

Merced may have been bounced to the No. 2 seed, but that should not stop the Blue Devils from making their annual trip to the state tournament. No. 7 Diablo Valley always poses a threat, but the Vikings of Pleasant Valley have not been as imposing this year.
An improved American River squad moved into third place in the "A" conference and owns the No. 3 seed in the North. The Beavers will need to get past No. 6 Santa Rosa for a third time this year to advance. The Bear Cubs have been the dominant team in the NorCal "C" bracket.

A pair of NorCal "B" teams will vie for the final spot in the State Tournament. No. 4 SJ Delta moved up from the "C" Conference last season to capture the "B" title this year. The Delta ladies have beaten No. 5 West Valley three times this year.

SOUTH- Long Beach, as expected, claimed the No. 1 seed in the Southern California Regional Playoffs and will get this Wednesday off to wait and see who wins between No. 8 LA Valley and No. 9 Cypress. LA Valley finished second in the Western State Conference, while the Chargers, who are hosting the tournament, are the fifth entry from the Orange Empire Conference.

No. 2 Golden West reclaimed the Orange Empire Conference title last week and is now looking to regain its spot atop the state rankings. The Rustlers have won four of the past five state titles, but missed the state tournament last year. OEC rival and No. 7 seed Fullerton will host No. 9 Ventura for the right to play the Rustlers on Friday. The Hornets and the Pirates will have their first meeting of the year on Wednesday at El Dorado HS.

No. 11 seed Grossmont upset SD Mesa to win the Pacific Coast crown, but didn't get much of a prize. Larry Larsen's Griffins will travel to San Luis Obispo on Wednesday to face the Western State Conference champions, No. 6 Cuesta. Things only get better after that, because the winner gets to play defending state champion Orange Coast on Friday at Cypress for the right to go to state, which the Cougars have never done and the Griffins have not done since 1998 when, coincidently, the tournament was in SLO-Town.

* Supplied by Jerry Hannula of the Community College Water Polo Poll & Newsletter. For subscription information, please call (949) 582-4490 or write to: jhannula@saddleback.edu