Boys’ volleyball: Spartans seeded No. 1 for City playoffs

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After spirited debate amongst committee members at Tuesday’s seeding meeting Sylmar was awarded the top spot for the City Section playoffs, which begin Thursday night.

By a vote of 7-3, league representatives favored the Spartans over Granada Hills even though the Highlanders went unscathed in the West Valley League, considered the strongest in the City.

‘It’s a tough call when you’ve got two undefeated teams that have similar results against common opponents but haven’t played each other,’ Sylmar Coach Soheil Mashhoud said. ‘Obviously, I think we deserve it but Granada [Hills] has a strong case too. If both of us are fortunate enough to make it to the finals we can settle it on the court.’

At least on paper, the road to the finals is likely to be tougher for #2 Granada Hills. If seedings hold the Highlanders would have to face reigning champion Palisades (#7) in the quarterfinals and league rival El Camino Real (#3), last year’s runner-up, in the semis.

‘We’ve played both teams and if they met 10 times I think they would split 5-5,’ said Taft Coach Arman Mercado, whose Toreadors got the #4 seed after losing to Sylmar Monday night and Granada Hills last week, both in four games. ‘Granada [Hills] did everything it was supposed to do. Going through our league undefeated shouldn’t be overlooked.’

San Fernando Valley schools took seven of the top 10 seeds in the 32-team tournament, including the top five spots. Click here to download the complete bracket.

-- Steve Galluzzo