First round playoff action in football begins this week for Catholic schools competing for CIF-Southern Section championships, with most action scheduled Nov. 18. Among the teams listed as title favorites are three unbeaten (10-0) schools: Notre Dame, St. Bonaventure and Villanova Prep.

Meanwhile, girls volleyball championships are scheduled this weekend at Cypress College, with one Catholic school championship assured as Marymount meets La Salle in the Division IV-AA final. Notre Dame Academy and Santa Margarita also will play for championships.

Football (all Nov. 18 unless noted):

Division I: Lakewood (8-2) vs. Loyola (6-4); Long Beach Cabrillo (3-7) vs. Mater Dei (6-4); Santa Margarita (5-5) vs. Redland East Valley (9-0-1); Miller (6-4) vs. Servite (7-3).

Division II: Damien (6-4) vs. Canyon County Canoyn (9-1).

Division III: Lynwood (3-7) at Notre Dame (10-0); St. Francis (8-2) at Downey (5-5); Arcadia (7-3) at Chaminade (8-2).

Division IV: Oxnard (6-4) at St. Bonaventure (10-0).

Division XI: Monrovia (5-5) at Crespi (7-3); Cathedral (6-4) at Lompoc (7-3); Palos Verdes (6-4) at Serra (6-4); St. Joseph of Santa Maria (5-5) vs. Gladstone (9-1) at Duarte.

Division XI: Village Christian (6-4) at La Salle (7-3) on Nov. 19; Mary star (3-5-2) at Cerritos Valley Christian (9-1); St. Anthony (7-3) vs. Grace Brethren (8-2) at Westlake; Bishop Diego (6-4) at San Jacinto (7-3); Carpinteria (7-3) vs. Verbum Dei (8-2) at Lawndale.

Division XII: Vasquez (7-2) at Salesian (6-4); Bell-Jeff (2-6) vs. L.A. Baptist (5-3-1) at Alemany; Cantwell-Sacred Heart (5-5) at Ontario Christian (8-2).

Division XIII: Maranatha (7-3) vs. Villanova Prep (10-0) at Nordhoff.

Girls Volleyball:

Division II-AA: Mater Dei lost its semifinal match to Mira Costa.

Division III-AA: Santa Margarita defeated St. Lucy's in three of four sets and will play Rim of the world in the final (Nov. 19, 7 p.m.).

Division III-A: Notre Dame Academy reached the final (Nov. 18, 7 p.m.) against Harvard-Westlake with a straight-sets victory over Rosary.

Division IV-AA: Perennial power Marymount will meet La Salle in the finals (Nov. 19, 4 p.m.), after Marymount topped Laguna Beach and La Salle rallied to defeat Flintridge Sacred Heart in five sets.

Other Sports:

In Girls Tennis, Villanova Prep gained the Division IV semifinals (Nov. 17) against Cerritos by defeating Palos Verdes.

In Boys Water Polo, Servite moved into the Division II semifinals (Nov. 18) by beating Marina 13-8, but Mater Dei lost to Villa Park 6-2. Damien lost its Division V quarterfinal match to Palm Desert, 14-10.