Prep volleyball: Clovis East draws second seed for D-I playoffs

Clovis East High, which swept Central on Thursday to complete its first Tri-River Athletic Conference title run, is the second seed for the Central Section Division-I volleyball playoffs.

The Timberwolves (30-7), with only one loss to section opposition in a match that went more than one set, were bypassed for the top seed in favor of Southwest Yosemite League champion Liberty-Bakersfield. The Patriots (31-6) had head-to-head losses to fourth-seeded Clovis West and eighth-seeded Clovis but closed the regular season on an 11-match winning streak, including two over third-seeded Centennial.

Other top seeds went to South Yosemite League champion Independence (D-II), South Sequoia League champ Bakersfield Christian (D-III), North Sequoia League winner Sierra (D-IV) and High Desert League champ Frazier Mountain (D-V).

The playoffs begin Nov. 10, with the quarterfinals on Nov. 12, the semis Nov. 17 and the finals, all to be played at West Hills College-Lemoore, on Nov. 21.

Clovis East, which has never won a section volleyball title, received a first-round bye and awaits the winner between No. 7 Buchanan and No. 10 Bullard in the quarterfinals. Defending D-I champion Clovis drew the eighth seed and opens against No. 9 Clovis North, with the winner going to Liberty.

In Division II, defending champion Central Valley Christian was seeded second, and will meet the winner between No. 7 Golden West and No. 10 Hoover in the quarters.

East Yosemite League champion Mission Oak was seeded second in Division III, where it will pursue the school’s first section volleyball title.

Minarets, which won a section D-V title and reached the CIF Southern California Regional final in 2013, is the second seed in D-IV. The Mustangs open against No. 15 Strathmore.

And in D-V, defending champ Frazier Mountain gets a free pass to the semifinals of a bracket with seven teams. Immanuel is the No. 2 seed and opens in the quarterfinals against No. 7 Alpaugh.

Other defending champions include Bakersfield Christian (D-III) and Fowler (D-IV).

All finals at West Hills College-Lemoore Event Center.

DIVISION I

Opening round, Nov. 10: No. 6 Central vs. No. 11 Tehachapi, No. 7 Buchanan vs. No. 10 Bullard, No. 8 Clovis vs. No. 9 Clovis North. Byes: No. 1 Liberty-Bakersfield bye, No. 2 Clovis East, No. 3 Centennial, No. 4 Clovis West, No. 5 Frontier.

Quarterfinals, Nov. 12: Liberty vs. Clovis/Clovis North winner, Frontier vs. Clovis West, Centennial vs. Central/Tehachapi winner, Clovis East vs. Buchanan/Bullard winner.

Semifinals: Nov. 17

Final: 8 p.m. Nov. 21

DIVISION II

Opening round, Nov. 10: No. 3 Exeter vs. No. 14 Madera South, No. 4 Garces vs. No. 13 Monache, No. 5 Sanger vs. No. 12 Redwood, No. 6 El Diamante vs. No. 11 Highland, No. 7 Golden West vs. No. 10 Hoover, No. 8 Tulare vs. No. 9 Mt. Whitney. Byes: No. 1 Independence, No. 2 Central Valley Christian.

Quarterfinals, Nov. 12: Independence vs. Tulare/Mt. Whitney winner, Sanger/Redwood winner vs. Garces/Monache winner, Exeter/Madera South winner vs. El Diamante/Highland winner, CVC vs. Golden West/Hoover winner.

Semifinals: Nov. 17

Final: 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21

DIVISION III

Opening round, Nov. 10: No. 4 Arvin vs. No. 13 North, No. 5 Memorial vs. No. 12 Fresno, No. 6 Reedley vs. No. 11 Foothill, No. 7 Woodlake vs. No. 10 Hanford West, No. 8 East Bakersfield vs. No. 9 Chavez. Byes: No. 1 Bakersfield Christian, No. 2 Mission Oak, No. 3 Yosemite.

Quarterfinals, Nov. 12: Bakersfield Christian vs. East/Chavez winner, Memorial/Fresno winner vs. Arvin/North winner, Yosemite vs. Reedley/Foothill winner, Mission Oak vs. Woodlake/Hanford West winner.

Semifinals: Nov. 17

Final: 3 p.m Nov. 21

DIVISION IV

Opening round, Nov. 10: No. 2 Minarets vs. No. 15 Strathmore, No. 3 Liberty-Madera Ranchos vs. No. 14 Sierra Pacific, No. 4 Kingsburg vs. No. 13 Fowler, No. 5 Dos Palos vs. No. 12 Kerman, No. 6 Coalinga vs. No. 11 Delano, No. 7 McFarland vs. No. 10 Rosamond, No. 8 Taft vs. No. 9 Bishop. Bye: No. 1 Sierra.

Quarterfinals, Nov. 12: Sierra vs. Taft/Bishop winner, Dos Palos/Kerman winner vs. Kingsburg/Fowler winner, Liberty/Sierra Pacific winner vs. Coalinga/Delano winner, McFarland/Rosamond vs. Minarets/Strathmore winner.

Semifinals: Nov. 17

Final: 12:30 p.m. Nov. 21

DIVISION V

Opening round, Nov. 10: No matches scheduled

Quarterfinals, Nov. 12: No. 4 Caruthers vs. No. 5 Laton, No. 3 California City vs. No. 6 Kings Christian, No. 2 Immanuel vs. No. 7 Alpaugh. Bye: No. 1 Frazier Mountain.

Semifinals, Nov. 17: Frazier Mountain vs. Caruthers/Laton winner, California City/Kings Christian winner vs. Immanuel/Alpaugh winner.

Final: 10 a.m. Nov. 21

Note: High Desert teams must play on the road unless playing another league opponent.

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 4:19 PM with the headline "Prep volleyball: Clovis East draws second seed for D-I playoffs."