HIGH SCHOOL: AREA VOLLEYBALL TEAMS PREPARE FOR DISTRICT TIME

With the regular season nearing an end, area volleyball teams brace for the upcoming district playoffs.

Several teams are finally returning to full strength after early season injuries and all are trying to fine-tune their games for the ultimate goal, the march to the state finals.

Playoffs for all four classes begin on Monday. District winners advance to the sectionals on Saturday, Oct. 28.

Following is a preview of area teams.

Class 4A, District 1

at Farmington

No. 1 seed Farmington (23-2-1) appears to be the team to beat.

Jackson (21-8-2) posted another 20-win season and goes in as the No. 2 seed.

The Lady Indians contended with injuries early, but seem to be as healthy as they've been all year.

Speaking about her team's chances in an anticipated matchup with Farmington, Jackson coach Nancy Ellis said, "Farmington is a very good team. We lost to them in three sets earlier in the season and our girls will have to play good to beat them. I think we're capable, but we can't look past our first match, either."

Jackson will face the winner of the Sikeston (No. 3) vs. Cape Central (No. 6) match on Thursday.

Sikeston has been solid, while Cape Central (2-18) has struggled in a down year.

Farmington will meet the winner of the Poplar Bluff (No. 4) vs. Hillsboro (No. 5) contest.

The finals will be held Thursday night.

Class 3A, District 1

at Dexter

Fredericktown gains the No. 1 seed, while Dexter is No. 2. Both have first-round byes.

Perryville (8-17), at No. 5, has been competitive, but inconsistent. The Lady Pirates hope the senior leadership of Natalie Bohnert and Andrea Buerck, along with the experience gained from a tough schedule in the competitive Jefferson County Conference will provide impetus for a nice run in districts.

Dexter will go against the winner of the New Madrid (No. 3) vs. Doniphan (No. 6) match, while Fredericktown will meet the winner of the Kennett (No. 4) vs. Perryville (No. 5) pairing on Tuesday.

The finals will be Tuesday night.

Class 2A, District 2

at Bloomfield

Notre Dame, the No. 1 seed with a 17-8-4 record, has made a strong run in recent weeks, with eight straight victories including a win over, arguably, the area's best team, Meadow Heights. That win was followed by a victory over Leopold, another solid team, to capture the championship of the Meadow Heights Tournament.

However, the Lady Bulldogs hit a bump in the road on Thursday while going for their ninth straight when Leopold avenged that earlier loss.

The Lady Bulldogs run coincided with the return of three key players who had been hampered by injuries.

"I think we're ready," said Notre Dame coach Helen Payne. "We're in good shape physically now."

Bloomfield comes in as the No. 2 seed, with Twin Rivers (No. 3) and Malden (No. 6).

Scott City at 13-12-4 is seeded No. 4, while Chaffee (No. 7) and Charleston (No. 5) complete the lineup of local teams in this bracket.

Notre Dame, with a bye, meets the Scott City/Charleston winner on Tuesday. Bloomfield and Chaffee face off on Monday with the winner meeting the victor of the Twin River/Malden contest, also on Tuesday.

The finals will be held on Tuesday night.

Class 2A, District 3

at Clearwater

Woodland (9-14-3) received the No. 3 seed in this five-team district.

Arcadia Valley (No. 1), Clearwater (No. 2) and Woodland drew opening-round byes.

Woodland meets Clearwater on Tuesday. Arcadia Valley takes on the winner between No. 4 Puxico and No. 5 Greenville, also on Tuesday.

Those semifinal winners vie for the championship later Tuesday night.

Class 1A, District 2

at Bell City

Perennial powerhouse Bernie (No. 1 seed) is the team everyone shoots for in this district.

Advance (22-8-2), the second seed, figures to meet Bernie in the finals.

The Lady Hornets have reason to be confident that they can compete with Bernie.

"We came close earlier this year when we held a 13-7 lead before they came back," said Advance coach Kim Aggertt. "But we have to get there first."

If there is a "sleeper" in this group, it could be the No. 4 seeded host Bell City (10-14), who recently knocked off the No. 2 and 3 seeds Dexter and Bloomfield in the Stoddard County Conference Tournament before dropping the championship match to Bernie, the top tournament seed.

Zalma (15-8-3), the third seed, has a veteran team and could make some noise.

Rounding out this district are Richland (No. 5), Oran (No. 6), and Risco (No. 7).

Bell City opens against Richland on Monday with the winner meeting Bernie on Tuesday. The Zalma/Oran winner will meet the winner of the Advance/Risco match in the other semifinal on Tuesday. The championship will be later Tuesday night.

Class 1A, District 4

at Meadow Heights

Meadow Heights, the top seed, with an outstanding 30-2 record is not necessarily the overwhelming favorite in this district.

Second-seeded Leopold (19-7-3), if at the top of its game, could provide a formidable test for host Meadow Heights.

"I think our district is very strong," said Meadow Heights coach Erin Hoffman. "We just want to take it one game at a time. The loss we had to Notre Dame has really helped to motivate the kids."

Rounding out the District 4 lineup are Valle (No. 3), St. Vincent (No. 4), Marquand (No. 5), Oak Ridge (No. 6) and Valley Caledonia (No. 7).

Meadow Heights, with an opening-round bye, will face the winner of the St. Vincent/Marquand match on Tuesday. Oak Ridge meets Valle, while Leopold takes on Valley Caledonia in the opening round. The winners of those matches will square off in the semifinal round on Tuesday. The champion will be crowned Tuesday night.