Desert Valley League champions and undefeated Palm Springs High School leads nine desert-area volleyball teams into the CIF playoffs, which start Tuesday.

Palm Springs, Palm Desert and La Quinta have qualified out of the DVL, while Victory League winner Desert Christian and Desert Chapel are in from that league. Desert Hot Springs earned a berth with a third-place finish in the De Anza League, while Xavier Prep, a freelance team, is in based on its CIF No. 4 ranking and 14-2 record.

Majestic League champions Marywood Palm Valley and Warrior League winner West Shores also drew first-round byes as title holders.

If Palm Desert is victorious in its first-round game, the Aztecs will travel to Los Angles to face CIF finalist Campbell Hall, the Olympic League champion who fell in the last's year title match to Olympic league rival Brentwood. Campbell Hall has been the CIF's top seed all season, compiling a 16-1 record.

Palm Springs was excited about its chances.

“We could get Downey again and we played them last year,” said Indians' coach Gary Wilhoite, looking at his side of the draw. “If not, there's a possibility of playing Brentwood (the defending champ who knocked out Palm Springs in the quarters). That would be fun to get that action.

“We've all (DVL teams) got some good chances and my kids are really excited. They're grateful that Cathedral City pushed them in the last game and we had a great practice Friday to get ready.”

Water polo

In water polo, the Desert Valley League competes in Division V and will be led by unbeaten league champion Palm Springs.

Runner up Palm Desert and third-place La Quinta are also in and will compete in first-round action Tuesday. The Indians (22-6 overall, 8-0 DVL) drew a bye for the first round and start competition on Wednesday at home. However, the Indians were also bypassed in the seedings by Troy, a team that Palm Springs had beaten earlier in the season, 12-7. Coach Avi Schneller knew of no explanation for the move but is ready for the winner of the California vs. Upland match.

“Upland is ranked eighth and is expected to easily win that match, but we'll just go one game at a time and focus on this second-round home game,” he said. “If we want to win a CIF Division V Championship this year — and I think that we have just as much of a chance to win it all as any of the other top teams — it doesn't really matter where we are ranked. Our guys worked hard all season long, and we are ready for the playoffs.”

Schneller also added that his team played both of the opponents that Palm Desert and La Quinta will face Tuesday. He noted that Palm Desert has the upper hand in its first-round match with El Rancho, but La Quinta's match at Arlington will be tough.

The water polo champions will be determined Nov. 21 at the William Woollett Aquatics Complex in Irvine.