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University’s boys tennis team is seeded No. 1 for its bid to capture a fourth consecutive CIF-SS Open Division championship and extend a dominant stretch of results.

The Trojans were one of five Orange County schools on Saturday to earn top seeds for the upcoming section playoffs, which begin Wednesday.

Portola (Division 1), Edison (Division 2), Oxford Academy (Division 4) and Capistrano Valley (Division 5) also received No. 1 seeds in their respective brackets.

The section’s playoff pairings were constructed for the first time using in-season World Tennis Number (WTN) power ratings.

University (22-1), also the reigning CIF State champion, claimed the team title at the Ojai tournament last week. The program is seeking its 16th section title and could aim for a third straight CIF/USTA SoCal Regional crown.

The Trojans’ only loss this season came against Punahou of Hawaii in the finals of the All-American tournament in mid-March.

University will be joined in the eight-team Open Division by No. 2 Harvard-Westlake (8-2), No. 3 Beckman (22-1) and No. 4 Corona del Mar (14-2). The draw also includes Peninsula (18-6), JSerra (15-0), Loyola (10-4) and Palos Verdes (14-5).

On Friday, University plays host to Palos Verdes, which it beat 11-7 in the semifinals last season.

“The Open draw has eight very strong teams so it will be interesting and exciting,” University coach John Kessler said. “If we have our full lineup, I think we are a pretty strong team. But you have to respect each opponent.”

Ojai singles champion Rishvanth Krishna elected not to play the Pacific Coast League individual tournament but Kessler hopes to have the sophomore in postseason team competition.

JSerra climbed to the Open Division after winning Division 1 last season. The Lions open at Beckman on Friday.

Division 1 will feature a 16-team bracket while the remaining divisions will feature 32-team draw.

Division 1 features three other Pacific Coast League teams beside runner-up Portola (15-7). Third-place Woodbridge (17-7), fourth-place Northwood (12-7) and at-large entry Sage Hill (13-7) are part of a strong field.

Woodbridge is seeded second to Portola.

Improved Marina (14-3), the Sunset League runner-up, also is in Division 1.

Division 1 featured a 32-team bracket last season.

“The breaklines (between divisions) and bands of teams looked better with a 16-team Division 1,” said Thom Simmons, an assistant commissioner and spokesperson for the section.

Kessler added, “I think CIF did a great job with the Open and D1 draws.”

Edison (12-7), the third-place from the Sunset League, narrowly fell to Division 2. South Pasadena edged Edison by 0.15 in the power ratings for the final spot in Division 1 and first-round match at Portola on Friday.

Foothill (10-6), the reigning Division 2 champion, remained in Division 2 and opens against host Mater Dei (11-5) on Wednesday.

The section added another division with Division 7.

The finals are scheduled for May 16 at the University of Redlands or The Claremont Club.

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