Volleyball state tournament pairings and predictions

Misfortune struck reigning Div state champion Newton North when the preseason favorite saw four starters suffer injuries that forced them to miss the final two weeks of the regular season As the Tigers went - in the stretch the state was on high alert to see if they d fall out of the top-four of the rankings and in turn open a window for a new Final Four favorite But with the postseason now here Newton North held onto the No seed And now that all of its starters are healthy enough to play the missing ingredient is back for a potentially historic recipe this Div state tournament In the power rankings era no conference or league in any sport has claimed all four state semifinal spots in one division s state tournament The Bay State Conference has an incredibly rare opportunity to do that Top-ranked Brookline - No Needham - and the Tigers - have a long history of matching up with each other far too soon in the tournament and No Natick - rounds out an elite quartet that has never been split into the four different paths to the Final Four Against the rest of the state in Div subtracting Newton North s injury-riddled stretch the four were a combined - with a - record in sets Needham split with both Natick and Newton North Newton North was swept by Natick and Brookline but the first matches between them with everyone healthy each went to five sets Natick handed Brookline its only loss within a -game win streak The only outlier was Brookline s two sweeps of Needham though no activity among the four has more championship experience than the Rockets Title droughts in Brookline or Natick seem preponderance likely to end But all four are chomping at the bit to meet in the Final Four for what would likely be an all-time finish Fifth-seeded Lexington - is right on their heels though showing just how dangerous it can be with a regular season rock-fight against Brookline The Minutemen are legit and their own combination of well-rounded defense and a deep attack could very well power it to its first Final Four The overall outlook in Div is also something we re not used to either The last three state tournaments have combined for a mere six upsets Only once has a unit outside of the top eight reached the state quarterfinals and only twice has a unit outside the top four reached the state semifinals Perhaps more than in any other sport this power rankings system has been spot-on in boys volleyball But these first two rounds look more parity-ridden than in any of those three years perhaps best exemplified by Milford - grabbing the No seed despite beating No Winchester - and No Cambridge - in the regular season All three are tough candidates for the state quarterfinals and the former two will likely have tough matchups against No Chelmsford - and No Methuen - respectively that could finish either way Injuries limited No St John s of Shrewsbury - which has foreseen as a sleeper No New Bedford - and No BC High - are dangerous teams with a tough draw meeting each other in the state tournament for a third straight year No Nipmuc - has dominated competition though it faces an uphill challenge with the weakest opponent rating in the top- The winner of Chelmsford-Milford will be an upset threat No Braintree - enjoyed its best season in the power rankings era which will be tested against pesky No Arlington - and No Acton-Boxboro - No Springfield Central has looked dangerous all year too There aren t as various historic components to the Div field in a group-wide scope but there s plenty of intrigue especially at the top An up-and-down regular season doesn t define No Wayland - considering injuries and the division s toughest opponent rating Behind star outside hitter Finn Bell and a deep roster the Warriors are in line to make a serious bid for their first state title The theatrics Div gave us last year feel improbable to replicate as Wayland reverse-swept Agawam in the state semifinals before Westfield reverse-swept the Warriors in the final Though both western powers are forces in need of a stellar performance to overcome again The only loss top-ranked Agawam - has suffered this year in a schedule with Needham Wayland and Westfield twice came when its star setter missed action against Chicopee Comp It s hard to force out of system and has multiple standout hitting options in search of a second title in three years No Westfield - is on a collision unit for a rematch with Agawam from that state final and the talent it returns from last year s championship run has rounded into form to feel good about its affair for a different outcome than its previous two meetings with the Brownies Fourth-seeded West Springfield - won both matchups against No Chicopee Comp but last year s big Cinderella story took the latest to five sets to show what could be an electric state quarterfinal Ninth-seeded Latin Academy - and No O Bryant - are sleepers out of the city No Greater Lowell - had an impressive year against a tougher schedule to prepare it this tournament No Lynn Classical - and No South High - are other anticipated heartbreakers No Longmeadow and No East Longmeadow round out what should be a strong showing from Western Mass this tournament Division Champion No Brookline Final Four Brookline No Natick No Needham No Newton North Sleeper No Chelmsford or No Milford Likely Upset No St John s over No Springfield Central Best First Round Matchup No Winchester vs No Methuen Division Champion No Westfield Final Four No Agawam Westfield No Wayland No West Springfield Sleeper No Latin Academy Anticipated Upset No O Bryant over No Medfield Best First Round Matchup No Norton vs No Lynn Classical