The safety net is gone, and the pressure-packed moments have arrived for Class B volleyball teams as they head into postseason action this week.
Despite building impressive resumes during the season, multiple quality teams will soon be putting away the uniforms as some regions will pit 20-plus win teams against each other.
For those who survive and advance, the SoDak 16 round awaits the following week, with the final desired destination being Rapid City later this month at the state tournament.
Here is a capsule look at each region involving area teams:
Region 1B
Today, Tuesday, and Thursday
By far the toughest region in the state in any class, Region 1B contains three teams that were rated in the top five in the last poll of the season.
Northwestern is the top seed and did not lose to a team within the region.
Warner and Hitchcock-Tulare appear to be on a collision course in the other half of the bracket, with the reality that one of their seasons will end this week.
Aberdeen Christian has won seven straight matches and will not go quietly.
Teams W L
Northwestern 32-2
Warner 28-6
Hitchcock-Tulare 26-4
Aberdeen Christian 15-8
Langford Area 11-20
Waubay-Summit 10-15
Waverly-South Shore 9-18
Leola-Frederick 5-15
Tiospa Zina 4-25
Wilmot 3-25
Tonight’s matches: Tiospa Zina at Leola-Frederick, 6 p.m.; Wilmot at Waverly-South Shore, 6 p.m.
Tuesday’s matches: Tiospa Zina/Leola-Frederick winner at Northwestern 6 p.m.; Langford Area at Aberdeen Christian 6 p.m.; Wilmot/Waverly-South Shore winner at Warner, 6 p.m.; Waubay-Summit at Hitchcock-Tulare 6 p.m.
Thursday’s matches: Langford Area/Aberdeen Christian winner vs. Tiospa Zina/Leola Frederick vs Northwestern winner, at highest seed, 6 p.m.; Waubay-Summit/Hitchcock-Tulare winner vs. Wilmot/Waverly-South Shore vs. Warner winner, at highest seed, 6 p.m.
Region 2B
Today, Tuesday, and Thursday
There are five teams in this region with winning records, so anything could happen.
Wolsey-Wessington is the top seed, but will need to play well to get out of the region.
Castlewood is the second seed, but could have its hands full with third-seeded Estelline-Hendricks. They met three times this season with Castlewood winning two of the matches.
De Smet is seeded fourth and could see Wolsey-Wessington in the semifinals, a team the Bulldogs beat earlier this season.
Team W L
Wolsey-Wessington 24-5
Castlewood 18-10
Estelline-Hendricks 22-8
De Smet 16-11
Arlington 17-15
Deubrook Area 15-17
Wessington Springs 12-16
Iroquois-Lake Preston 11-19
Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 7-22
James Valley Christian 6-14
Tonight’s matches: Oldham-Ramona-Rutland at Iroquois-Lake Preston, 6 p.m.; James Valley Christian at Wessington Springs 7 p.m.
Tuesday’s matches: Oldham-Ramona-Rutland/Iroquois-Lake Preston winner at Wolsey-Wessington, 6 p.m.; Arlington at De Smet at Wolsey-Wessington, 7:30 p.m.; James Valley Christian-Wessington Springs winner at Castlewood, 6 p.m.; Deubrook Area at Estelline-Hendricks at Castlewood, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday’s matches: Arlington-De Smet winner vs. James Valley Christian-Wessington Springs vs. Castlewood winner at highest remaining seed; Oldham-Ramona-Rutland/Iroquois-Lake Preston winner vs. Wolsey-Wessington winner at highest remaining seed.
Region 6B
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at highest seeds
Top-seeded Herreid-Selby Area and second-seeded Ipswich will be favored to reach next week’s SoDak 16.
Herreid-Selby Area finished the season with a pair of tough matches to prepare for the region, a loss to Ipswich and a win over Aberdeen Roncalli last week. The Wolverines could be looking at facing a 20-win North Central team in the semifinals.
Ipswich, which split its past six matches, could be facing a semifinal matchup with Highmore-Harrold, which has won six of its last eight.
Team W L
Herreid-Selby Area 23-6
Ipswich 21-6
Highmore-Harrold 15-12
North Central 19-12
Faulkton 13-16
Sully Buttes 7-19
Gettysburg 8-22
Wakpala 7-19
Sunshine Bible Academy 5-21
Tiospaye Topa 2-25
Tonight’s matches: Sunshine Bible Academy at Wakpala, 6 p.m. (MDT); Tiospaye Topa at Gettysburg, 7 p.m.
Tuesday’s matches: Sunshine Bible Academy-Wakpala winner at Herreid-Selby Area, 7 p.m.; Faulkton at North Central, 7 p.m.; Tiospaye Topa-Gettysburg winner at Ipswich, 7 p.m.; Sully Buttes at Highmore-Harrold, 7 p.m.
Thursday’s matches: Faulkton-North Central winner vs. Sunshine Bible Academy-Wakpala winner vs. Herreid-Selby Area winner at highest seed; Sully Buttes/Highmore-Harrold winner vs. Tiospaye Topa-Gettysburg winner vs. Ipswich winner at highest seed.
