What to know: Regional volleyball play starts this week, with 8 area programs competing

With district tournament play done, the volleyball postseason hits the regional rounds with eight Big Bend programs looking to book a ticket to the state championships in Winter Haven.

The FHSAA released the 2023 Florida High School Girls Volleyball State Tournament brackets Sunday, and the Class 6A Chiles Timberwolves and Class 3A Florida High Seminoles headline local volleyball teams selected.

The Timberwolves (22-5) are the Big Bend's top-ranked team at No. 17 overall and No. 4 in 6A. The Seminoles (22-5) are 22nd overall, No. 7 in 3A.

No other local team was ranked among the state's top 50.

A notable absence from the postseason tourney was Rickards (22-2), ranked 305th and 42nd in Class 5A.

The FHSAA's postseason qualifying system includes strength of schedule and state rankings.

Classes 2A-4A start regional tourney quarterfinals Tuesday; Classes 5A-7A Wednesday; and Class 1A regional semifinals Friday.

The state championships for all classifications is Nov. 6-11 at Polk State College in Winter Haven.

Here is a breakdown on what to expect from this week's regional matchups.

FHSAA State Volleyball Tournament schedule

Tuesday

Class 4A: No. 7 Wakulla at No. 2 South Walton

The War Eagles travel to second-seeded South Walton for its opening regional matchup. Wakulla won the 4A District 2 title, beating Baker County 3-2 (15-25, 15-25, 25-17, 25-18, 15-9), and sitting at 15-10 the War Eagles are looking to pull off the upset over the 19-5 4A District 1 champion Seahawks.

The winner will advance to Thursday's 6A Region 1 semifinal, facing the winner of No. 3 Bolles vs. No. 6 Wolfson.

Class 3A: No. 7 Episcopal School of Jacksonville at No. 2 Florida High; No. 6 Maclay at No. 3 Trinity Catholic

Both Florida High and Maclay hit the courts on Tuesday, with hopes of booking a spot in the 3A Region 1 semifinal, where the two teams would face each other in a District title rematch.

The Seminoles host the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, who are 10-18 and lost in the 3A District 2 title game to Trinity Christian Academy. Florida High is 22-5, winning the 3A District 1 title game, sweeping Maclay 3-0 (25-13, 25-7, 25-13), and is looking to book a spot in the regional semifinals.

Maclay got an at-large bid into the regional rounds, traveling to Trinity Catholic hoping to pull off the upset and get a rematch with Florida High in the semifinal round. Trinity Catholic is 16-8, winning the 3A District 4 title in a sweep over Trinity Prep (25-9, 25-18, 25-15), winning four of the last five games played. Maclay lost in the district final to Florida High, and sit at 13-11 heading into the regional quarterfinals.

The winners of both matchups will face each other in the 3A Region 1 Semifinals on Thursday.

Class 2A: North Florida Christian at Oak Hall

The Eagles won the 2A District 1 title, beating St. John Paul II 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 19-25, 25-21, 15-13). Traveling to top-seeded Oak Hall, who is 22-4 and the 2A District 4 champion, beating Countryside Christian. It will need to be a perfect game from NFC to pull off the big upset.

The winner will play the winner of No. 4 St. John's County Day vs. No. 5 Countryside Christian in Thursday's 2A Region 1 semifinal.

Wednesday

Class 6A: Leon at Ponte Vedra; Fletcher at Chiles

Two area 6A powerhouses are in action on Thursday, with Leon traveling to fifth-seeded Ponte Vedra, who hosts the matchup because they are district champions, and second-seeded Chiles hosting Fletcher.

Leon lost to Chiles in the 6A District 2 title game 3-0 (25-14, 25-9, 25-19), and got an at-large bid into the regional playoffs, traveling to a Ponte Vedra team that is 13-13 and the 6A District 3 champion, beating Fleming Island. The winner will play the winner of No. 1 Gulf Breeze vs. No. 8 Mosley on Saturday.

The Timberwolves are the second seed in 6A Region 1 and hosting Flecther, who is 22-5 and lost to Fleming Island in the 6A District 3 semifinals. Chiles is 22-5 and the District champion after a sweep of Leon ( (25-14, 25-9, 25-19). The winner will host the winner of No. 3 Gainesville vs. No. 6 Navarre on Saturday.

Class 5A: Choctawhatchee at Lincoln

The Trojans host the visiting Choctawhatchee in the 5A Region 1 Semifinals. Lincoln won its first district title in over a decade, sweeping Vanguard 3-0 (25-12, 25-21, 25-18) and its record sits at 17-10. Choctawhatchee comes into its matchup with Lincoln at 18-8, winning the 5A District 1 championship.

The winner will face the winner of No. 1 Middleburg vs. No. 8 Arnold in Saturday's semifinals.

Friday

Class 1A: Aucilla Christian at Branford

The Warriors won its second straight 1A District 5 championship, sweeping Hilliard 3-0 (25-11, 25-11, 25-15). Aucilla Christian received the four seed and will face Branford, who is the top seed in the 4A region and 22-4, winning the 1A District 6 championship.

The winner will face the winner of No. 2 Union County vs. No. 3 Lafayette in the regional finals next week.

Note: All matches start at 7 p.m.

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Here is the breakdown for 8 regional volleyball games this week