The postseason for spring sports begin in the Sac-Joaquin Section today with boys volleyball play-in matches.
The first round is on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the coed tennis team playoffs open on Friday, with Ripon Christian as the top seed in Division II. Three Manteca Unified schools are in the boys tennis playoffs starting next Tuesday, May 5 but got tough draws.
Manteca’s Valley Oak League runner-up boys volleyball team is seeded 12th in the loaded Division II playoffs. The Buffaloes (21-6) are featured in one of the bracket’s six play-ins tonight and hosts No. 2 St. Mary’s (15-14), the third-place team out of the Tri-City Athletic League. It’s a rematch of their March 2 non-league showdown won by Manteca, 25-21, 25-18, 26-24. Fifth-seeded Rio American (16-16), the Capital Valley Conference outright champion, awaits the winner on Wednesday.
First-time Central California Athletic Alliance titlist River Islands (18-5) makes its second playoff appearance Wednesday and will see a familiar foe in 13th-seeded Ripon (15-14). The fourth-seeded Riptide swept the Indians 27-25, 25-16, 25-13 on March 13 and are seeking their first postseason victory.
The Division III bracket includes three local programs that are hosting their openers.
Three-time section champion Ripon Christian (21-14), coming off a seventh consecutive undefeated league title run, is seeded No. 2. The Knights will take on the Nos. 15-18 play-in between Vanden (13-15) and Lindhurst (10-10).
On the same half of the bracket is No. 3 Lathrop (24-6), which squares off with No. 14 Oakmont (12-9). Fifth-seeded Sierra (17-8) will host Golden Empire League co-champion Rio Linda (15-8), the No. 12 seed.
The volleyball finals take place May 9 at Cosumnes River College.
In coed tennis, Ripon Christian is positioned to repeat as Division II champion. The Knights claimed their first section crown last year via forfeiture, as their final-round opponent, Colfax, was unable to field a full team because of International Baccalaureate testing. They’ll welcome No. 8 Denair in the first round.
Rival Ripon narrowly missed a playoff berth out of the competitive Trans Valley League. The third and final spot went to Orestimba, which is the eighth seed in the 16-team Division I bracket.
Two-time reigning SJS Division IV boys tennis champion Sierra (9-7) got a tough break when it was bumped up to Division III. The Timberwolves travel to second-seeded Merced (11-5), the Central California Conference champion.
East Union (8-8) is seventh in Division IV as an at-large qualifier from the VOL. They head to Foothill Valley League champion Roseville (15-1-2).
Lathrop is the No. 6 seed in Division IV and opens at VOL runner-up Oakdale (9-3).
All tennis championships are on May 14 in Stockton. The boys finals will be held at Zimmerman Tennis Complex at UOP, while the coed title rounds are at Oak Park Tennis Complex.
