Girls’ Volleyball: Sage, CdM, Mesa, Newport in CIF playoffs

As expected, Sage Hill School received the top seed in the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA girls’ volleyball playoffs, and Corona del Mar qualified in Division 1AA and Costa Mesa in Division 2AA.

Another local team made it as well when the section released its postseason pairings on Friday. Newport Harbor earned an at-large berth into Division 1AA.

The playoffs begin for the four area teams on Tuesday at 7 p.m., with Sage Hill and Corona del Mar playing host to first-round matches, while Costa Mesa and Newport Harbor are hitting the road.

Sage Hill (18-3), which has appeared in three straight section finals, winning it all in Division 3A last year, entertains Pico Rivera El Rancho (14-10) at 7 p.m. Sage Hill is coming off its first outright Academy League title. El Rancho is an at-large team from the Del Rio League.

The Sea Kings (21-5) face Gardena Serra (17-12). CdM claimed an undefeated Pacific Coast League crown, and Serra placed third in the Del Rey League.

Costa Mesa (10-11), which finished third in the Orange Coast League, is at La Canada (14-9), the runner-up from the Rio Hondo League.

While Sage Hill, CdM and Costa Mesa secured postseason berths by finishing in the top three in their respective leagues, Newport Harbor needed to be put in the playoffs by a selection committee.

The Sailors (14-13) took fourth in the Sunset League, good enough to be rewarded with a trip to No. 4-seeded Los Angeles Marymount (26-6). Marymount, the Mission League champion, has won three section titles in the last four years, once in Division 1AA (2012) and twice in Division 1A (2010-11).

Newport Harbor last won a section championship in 2009.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza