District Volleyball preview: How the brackets look heading into tournament play Monday
Another volleyball regular season has come and gone. Now, the real season begins.
The 2022 postseason commences on Monday with teams aiming to punch their ticket to the state playoffs through district tournaments, five of which involve local teams.
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The district champion automatically advances to the state tournament while the rest of the bracket is filled with at-large bids based off of RPI rankings. District seeds are also determined by RPI.
Here's a look at this week's district schedule:
District 1-1A at Central High School
Oct. 17
No. 5 Laurel Hill vs. No. 4 Northview
Oct. 18
No. 1 Baker vs. Laurel Hill/Northview winner
No. 2 Jay vs. No. 3 Central
Oct. 20
Championship match
The skinny: Riding into the tournament with a 17-6 record, Baker enters as the favorite. The Gators haven't dropped a set in six district matches and will be a shoo-in to advance to the championship match. The question is who will join them: host Central or Jay? The two teams split a pair of matches during the regular season.
If the Jaguars do move on to face Baker, that would not only set up a rematch of last year's district title match, but a rematch of last season's Region 1-1A Final. The Gators captured the district crown, but Central got the last laugh, beating Baker in five sets to make it to the Final Four.
Championship prediction: Baker over Central
District 1-3A at various locations
Oct. 17
No. 5 Marianna at No. 4 Rocky Bayou Christian
No. 6 Walton at No. 3 Maclay
Oct. 18
Marianna/Rocky Bayou Christian winner at No. 1 Florida State University High School
Walton/Maclay winner at No. 2 Pensacola Catholic
Oct. 20
Championship match at Marianna High School
The skinny: After alternating wins and losses over their last seven matches to close the regular season, the Crusaders aim to string together victories toward another district crown. Pensacola Catholic is the two-time reigning District 1-3A champs. The team that the Crusaders defeated each team in the title match was Florida High, who is the top-seed this time around.
If Pensacola Catholic hopes to make it a three-peat, they will have to win one match away from its home gym. Two years ago, the Crusaders raised the trophy on an opponent's floor thanks to a five-set win at FSUH. With the championship match set to be played in Marianna, will history repeat itself?
Championship prediction: Pensacola Catholic over Florida State University High
District 1-4A at higher seed
Oct. 17
No. 5 Bay at. No. 4 West Florida
No. 6 Rutherford at No. 3 North Bay Haven Academy
Oct. 18
Bay/West Florida winner at No. 1 South Walton
Rutherford/North Bay Haven Academy winner at No. 2 Pensacola
Oct. 20
Championship match
The skinny: Ranked 10th in Class 4A, South Walton may be a safe bet to continue its season after the district tournament. Pensacola is in less-certain shape as it would hold the last at-large bid of the season ended today. As tight as things are, the Tigers have to be encouraged with their play entering this week after wins in their last four matches. Sophomore outside hitter Zoe Malloy leads the team with 203 kills and is one of four Tigers with more than 100 digs. Senior libero Lara Endacott (246 digs) paces the team in that department.
If this tournament goes chalk, South Walton and Pensacola should make for an intriguing title match. However, the intrigue only increases if either stumble on Tuesday. Each team has lost a match to an opponent on the other side of the bracket. The Seahawks fell to North Bay Haven Academy on Sept. 8 while the Tigers dropped a three-set match to West Florida on Sept. 24.
Championship prediction: South Walton over Pensacola
District 1-5A at higher seed
Oct. 17
No. 5 Escambia at No. 4 Fort Walton Beach
No. 6 Pine Forest at No. 3 Arnold
Oct. 18
Escambia/Fort Walton Beach winner vs. No. 1 Choctaw
Pine Forest/Arnold winner vs. No. 2 Booker T. Washington
Oct. 20
Championship match
The skinny: Confidence is high in Wildcat country as Booker T. Washington enters this week victorious in five of its last six matches. More importantly, the team has done its best against the best this district has to offer.
The Wildcats haven't lost a set in four district matches this season. That includes a win on Sept. 19 at top-seeded Choctaw and a triumph on Oct. 6 against No. 3 Arnold. Those scenarios line themselves up again as a quarterfinal victory would send the Marlins to Booker T.. From there, a Wildcats win on Tuesday would potentially set up a title match at Choctaw.
Championship prediction: Booker T. Washington over Choctaw
District 1-6A at higher seed
Oct. 17
No. 5 Milton at No. 4 Tate
Oct. 18
Milton/Tate winner at No. 1 Gulf Breeze
No. 3 Pace at No. 2 Navarre
Oct. 20
Championship match
The skinny: The only district that only features area teams has only been about one team. Ranked eighth overall in the state, top-seeded Gulf Breeze, who is seeking its fourth-straight district title, is the overwhelming favorite. With senior outside hitter Camryn Brooks (263 kills) and sophomore outside hitter Bella Satterwhite (241 kills) carrying the offense, the Dolphins have won their last 16 matches, 14 of which via sweep.
However, one of the teams who was able to take a set off Gulf Breeze was Navarre. Led senior outside hitter and area kills leader Kyra McKelvey (333 kills), the Raiders take the Dolphins to four sets in each team's regular-season finale this past Thursday. Was that match a precursor to another competitive bout? Pace, Tate and Milton believe otherwise.
Championship prediction: Gulf Breeze over Navarre
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (850) 503-3828, on Twitter @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: High School Volleyball: Pensacola-area teams begin district tournaments
