Things are about to get interesting as area Class B volleyball teams head into postseason action this week. All of the regions involving area teams feature multiple teams with impressive records. Not all of them will be able to advance to next week’s SoDak 16 matches.
Keep an eye on potential semifinal matchups on Thursday, which could provide plenty of energy and excitement.
Here is a capsule look at each region involving area teams:
Region 1B
Today, Tuesday, and Thursday at highest seeds
This is the only region in the state, any class, the features two 30-win teams.
Traditional powers Warner and Northwestern both reached the 30-win plateau this season.
Warner is the top seed and has played in the last six state championship matches. The Monarchs have not lost to a Class B team this season.
Northwestern is the second seed, and faced a demanding schedule. However, the Wildcats have a formidable foe potentially in their way in Aberdeen Christian. The Knights have won 20 matches, and while they were swept twice against Northwestern, the last two sets in the last match both ended 26-24.
Teams W L
Warner 30-3
Northwestern 30-5
Aberdeen Christian 20-9
Langford Area 15-13
Hitchcock-Tulare 16-14
Waubay-Summit 10-14
Waverly-South Shore 11-16
Tiospa Zina 8-20
Wilmot 5-16
Leola-Frederick 4-16
Tonight’s matches: Wilmot at Tiospa Zina, 6 p.m.; Leola-Frederick at Waverly-South Shore, 6 p.m.
Tuesday’s matches: Wilmot/Tiospa Zina winner at Warner, 6 p.m.; Hitchcock-Tulare at Langford Area, 6 p.m.; Leola-Frederick/Waverly-South Shore winner at Northwestern, 6 p.m.; Waubay-Summit at Aberdeen Christian, 6 p.m.
Thursday’s matches: Semifinals at highest remaining seeds, 6 p.m.
Region 2B
Today, Tuesday, and Thursday at highest seeds, Wolsey, Estelline
There is a trio of teams that have won more than 20 matches in this region.
Wolsey-Wessington leads the pack with 24 wins and owns the top seed. The Warbirds started out the season with back-to-back losses and have gone 24-3 since.
Estelline-Hendricks and Deubrook Area have both won 21 matches and are likely to meet up in the semifinals. The two split a pair of matches this season, each sweeping the other. Estelline-Hendricks has won its last eight matches, while Deubrook Area has won five of its last six matches.
Teams W L
Wolsey-Wessington 24-5
Estelline-Hendricks 21-5
Deubrook Area 21-7
Castlewood 15-11
Arlington 14-15
Wessington Springs 13-16
Iroquois-Lake Preston 8-22
De Smet 6-20
Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 6-19
James Valley Christian 7-17
Tonight’s matches: Oldham-Ramona-Rutland at De Smet, 7 p.m.; James Valley Christian at Iroquois-Lake Preston, 7 p.m.
Tuesday’s matches: Oldham-Ramona-Rutland/De Smet winner at Wolsey-Wessington, 6 p.m.; Arlington vs. Castlewood at Wolsey, 7:30 p.m. James Valley Christian/Iroquois-Lake Preston winner at Estelline-Hendricks, 6 p.m.; Wessington Springs vs. Deubrook Area at Estelline, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday’s matches: Semifinals at highest remaining seeds
Region 6B
Today, Tuesday, and Thursday at highest seeds
The top four teams in this region all have similar records which could make for some interesting semifinals matchups.
Miller, which dropped down to Class B this season, is the top seed at 19-9. The Rustlers played a schedule full of Class A foes, which could pay major benefits. Miller has not played Ipswich (16-11) a potential semifinal opponent.
Faulkton at 18-11 is the second seed and would own a home-court advantage in a semifinal match. The Trojans have dropped four straight heading into the postseason against quality opponents. Highmore-Harrold, 17-10, could be a semifinal foe and lost to Faulkton during the regular season.
Teams W L
Miller 19-9
Faulkton 18-11
Highmore-Harrold 17-10
Ipswich 16-11
Herreid-Selby Area 13-17
North Central 14-14
Gettysburg 12-18
Sunshine Bible 10-16
Tiospaye Topa 9-19
Sully Buttes 3-23
Wakpala 3-22
Tonight’s matches: Tiospaye Topa at Sunshine Bible, 7 p.m.; Sully Buttes at Gettysburg, 7 p.m.; Wakpala at North Central, 7 p.m.
Tuesday’s matches: Tiospaye Topa/Sunshine Bible winner at Miller, 7 p.m.; Herreid-Selby Area at Ipswich, 7 p.m.; Sully Buttes/Gettysburg winner at Faulkton, 7 p.m.; Wakpala/North Central winner at Highmore-Harrold, 7 p.m.
Thursday’s matches: Semifinals at highest remaining seeds
