Fall Sports

At the Net: Girls volleyball inching toward postseason

Friday is the final day of the regular season for girls volleyball. Here's a look at what's on the line in each division leading up to the end of the year. The postseason is scheduled to begin with the Division II first round on Wednesday, with Division I and III starting on Thursday.

Friday is the final day of the regular season for girls volleyball. Here's a look at what's on the line in each division leading up to the end of the year.

The postseason is scheduled to begin with the Division II first round on Wednesday, with Division I and III starting on Thursday.

Division I

This is for sure: Merrimack (16-1) will be the No. 1 seed in the tournament for the second straight year after Spaulding (15-2) lost to Concord (14-3) on Wednesday night. Merrimack holds the head-to-head tiebreaker, so even if the Tomahawks lose to Nashua North (6-11) on Thursday, they'd still be the top seed.

Spaulding finishes out the year at Exeter (10-7) on Friday, and if the Red Raiders win, they'd get the No. 2 seed. If they lose ... things could interesting. Concord and Hollis Brookline (14-3) are right behind Spaulding in the standings, and both play on the road on Friday - Concord at Winnacunnet (2-15) and HB at Alvirne (7-10).

Those four teams will be the top four seeds, unless Concord slips up and Dover (13-4) beats Timberlane (6-10). The Green Wave hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Crimson Tide.

Here are the standings, with the top 16 teams making the playoffs.

Merrimack (16-1) - at Nashua North, Thursday
Spaulding (15-2) - at Exeter, Friday
Concord (14-3) - at Winnacunnet, Friday
Hollis Brookline (14-3) - at Alvirne, Friday
Dover (13-4) - at Timberlane, Friday
Bishop Guertin (12-5) - vs. Goffstown, Friday
Pinkerton (12-6) - finished regular season
Bedford (10-7) - vs. Manchester Central, Friday
Exeter (10-7) - vs. Spaulding, Friday
Goffstown (10-7) - at Bishop Guertin, Friday
Londonderry (9-9) - finished regular season
Alvirne (7-10) - vs. Hollis Brookline, Friday
Timberlane (6-10) - vs. Dover, Friday
Nashua North (6-11) - vs. Merrimack, Thursday
Salem (6-11) - vs. Keene, Friday
Nashua South (4-13) - vs. Manchester Memorial, Friday
Keene (3-14) - at Salem, Friday
Winnacunnet (2-15) - vs. Concord, Friday
Manchester Memorial (1-16) - at Nashua South, Friday
Manchester Central (0-16) - at Bedford, Friday

Division II

The No. 1 seed will come down to Friday's match between Gilford (15-0) and Somersworth (14-1), which be hosted by the Hilltoppers. The Golden Eagles remained undefeated with a big win Wednesday over Laconia.

Gilford is not only undefeated on the year, but has lost just one set all season - to Coe-Brown back on Sept. 28, giving the Eagles a 45-1 record in games this year. Somersworth's lone loss came against St. Thomas on Oct. 12.

Even with a loss Friday, Somersworth would be the No. 2 seed because of its head-to-head win over Windham (13-2), which finishes at Oyster River (8-7) on Friday. The Jaguars are locked into the No. 3 seed thanks to a season sweep of Milford (12-3).

If Milford beats Souhegan (4-11) on Friday, the Spartans would be the No. 4 seed. If not, it opens the door for Hanover (12-4) and Kingswood (11-4) to move up.

Here are the standings, again, with the top 16 teams making the playoffs.

Gilford (15-0) - at Somersworth, Friday
Somersworth (14-1) - vs. Gilford, Friday
Windham (13-2) - at Oyster River, Friday
Milford (12-3) - vs. Souhegan, Friday
Hanover (12-4) - finished regular season
Kingswood (11-4) - vs. Coe-Brown, Friday
John Stark (10-5) - at Pelham, Friday
St. Thomas (9-6) - at Kennett, Friday
Plymouth (9-7) - finished regular season
Oyster River (8-7) - vs. Windham, Friday
Laconia (7-8) - at Portsmouth, Friday
Coe-Brown (7-8) - at Kingswood, Friday
ConVal (6-10) - finished regular season
Pelham (5-10) - vs. John Stark, Friday
Portsmouth (4-11) - vs. Laconia, Friday
Souhegan (4-11) - at Milford, Friday
Prospect Mountain (4-12) - finished regular season
Manchester West (2-13) - vs. Fall Mountain, Friday
Fall Mountain (0-15) - at Manchester West, Friday
Kennett (0-15) - vs. St. Thomas, Friday

Division III

If Campbell (15-0) beats Epping (11-4) on Friday, the Cougars will complete an undefeated regular season and be the No. 1 seed. If not, then its possible there's a three-way tie for first among three teams that didn't play each other during the regular season.

Sunapee (15-1) is done and waiting for the playoffs to start, while Farmington (14-1) will host Winnisquam (13-2) on Friday; Winnisquam won the first meeting between the two on Sept. 26.

Regardless of what happens, those teams will be the top four seeds going into the tournament.

Here are the standings, again, with the top 16 teams making the playoffs.