CITY VOLLEYBALL: SAN PEDRO NO. 1 SEED IN TOURNEY.

Byline: IVAN OROZCO Staff Writer

Defending City Section girls' volleyball champion San Pedro High received the No. 1 seed at Tuesday's seeding meeting at Hamilton High, thus earning home court advantage throughout the postseason.

But Taft of Woodland Hills coach Arman Mercado isn't complaining.

Although the Toreadors were seeded second in the 32-team playoff bracket, Taft might have an easier path to the Nov. 17 championship match.

The Pirates beat the Toreadors in last season's final and the teams are heavy favorites to meet again this year. But there could be plenty of parity in the rest of the draw.

``It's going to be an interesting second round,'' said Verdugo Hills of Tujunga coach Will Reinhart, whose team received the 10th seed and will play host to No. 23 King-Drew Magnet in Thursday's opener.

``There will be some upsets. I'm fairly confident about that.''

Seven other San Fernando Valley teams -- No. 3 Grant of Van Nuys, No. 4 Sylmar, No. 6 Granada Hills, No. 8 Birmingham of Lake Balboa, No. 9 Van Nuys, No. 12 Cleveland of Reseda and No. 16 Chatsworth -- were seeding among the top 16 teams.

-- Erik Boal contributed

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