March 29, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

Woodbridge boys volleyball team gets a second chance in regional tournament on Tuesday

Woodbridge, led by Ben Montplaisir, is moving on to the regional playoffs Tuesday (File photo courtesy Harrison Zhang, For OC Sports Zone).

When Woodbridge’s boys volleyball players left the court Wednesday night following a four-set loss to Quartz Hill in the CIF Division 3 playoffs, they may have thought their season was over.

On Sunday, the Warriors and Coach Alan Ho learned their season would continue Tuesday.

Woodbridge was selected for the Southern California regional playoffs and will host Poway in a Division II opening round match on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The Warriors are seeded fourth.

“It’s an honor to get a second chance and continue our season,” said Coach Alan Ho. “For most athletes, the right to play in regionals doesn’t happen very often.”

Ho said that Poway, which is seeded fifth, won the CIF San Diego Division 1 title.

“They’ll be a tough opponent,” he said. “They’ve got some size as well so it will be a good challenge for us.”

The winner of Tuesday’s match goes on to face the winner of the match between No. 1 Oak Park and No. 8 Del Norte on Thursday.

“We’ll be taking it one match at a time, as cliche as that sounds,” Ho said.

Mt. Carmel is seeded third, Los Altos sixth, Peninsula second and Windward seventh.

Woodbridge had quite a run in the CIF playoffs, reaching the semifinal round.

The regional finals are Saturday.

Three other county teams are moving on to the regionals.

Newport Harbor, the CIF Division 1 champion; Saddleback Valley Christian, the Division 2 champion; and El Modena, the Division 5 champion, are also headed to the regional tournament.

No. 1 Newport Harbor will host No. 8 Sage Creek and No. 7 Saddleback Valley Christian will play at No. 1 Palasades in the Division I bracket.

Top seeded El Modena will host Maywood CES in the Division III bracket.