Florida HS Volleyball Playoffs: Eight Pensacola-area teams qualify for regional tournament

Regional volleyball is officially here.

After extending district tournaments until Saturday, the regional tournament seedings have been released by the Florida High School Athletic Association. District champions earn automatic berths into the postseason, while the next four-best teams based on the rankings also get into the regional tournament.

While the FHSAA hasn't posted its updated regional rankings yet (the last ones were posted on Oct. 9, prior to district tournaments), brackets for regional tournaments were made available on MaxPreps on Saturday evening.

For area teams, Gulf Breeze was the only team guaranteed a spot after winning its sixth consecutive district title, defeating Niceville, 3-1, on Thursday in the District 1-6A championship game.

Pace (6A), Navarre (6A), Pensacola (4A), West Florida (4A), Pensacola Catholic (3A) and Jay (Rural) all made the region tournaments as at-large bids.

Here are how the brackets shape up (this story will be updated once the Rural brackets are posted).

Region 1-6A

• 1. Gulf Breeze (1)* vs. 8. Fletcher (2)*
• 2. Oviedo (3)* vs. 7. Lake Howell (3)
• 3. Niceville (1) at 6. Lake Minneola (4)*
• 4. Navarre (1) vs. 5. Pace (1)

Dates: Quarterfinals: Oct. 23 | Semifinals: Oct. 26 | Finals: Oct. 30

Notes: District 1 runs the table right now, boasting two home games in the Region Quarterfinals. Gulf Breeze hosts District 2 champion Fletcher, based on being the higher seed. Oviedo (District 3) hosts Lake Howell for a district rivalry game in the quarterfinals. Niceville, despite being ranked third, has to go to Lake Minneola, District 4's champion, since the Eagles are an at-large team. Another district rivalry game, with Navarre and Pace, is also on tap in the quarterfinals.

Region 1-4A

• 1. South Walton (1)* vs. 8. Baker County (4)
• 2. Bishop Kenny (4)* vs. 7. Suwannee (2)*
• 3. Pensacola (1) vs. Fort Walton Beach (1)
• 4. West Florida (1) at 5. Yulee (3)*

Dates: Quarterfinals: Oct. 23 | Semifinals: Oct. 26 | Finals: Oct. 30

Notes: Four teams from District 1, again, are in the regional playoffs. South Walton and Pensacola will be the only hosts, however, with the former earning the District 1-4A title. Bishop Kenny, District 4's champion, hosts District 2 crown-holder Suwannee, and the latter loses the right to host as the lower seed. West Florida, despite being seeded higher, will have to hit the road at Yulee, since the Hornets are the District 3 champion and earned the right to host. Pensacola will host district rival Fort Walton Beach to kick things off.

Region 1-3A

• 1. North Bay Haven Academy (1)* vs. 8. Baldwin (3)
• 2. Pensacola Catholic (1) at 7. Fernandina Beach (3)*
• 3. Florida High (2)* vs. 6. Episcopal (4)
• 4. Bolles (4)* vs. 5. Wolfson (4)

Dates: Quarterfinals: Oct. 22 | Semifinals: Oct. 26 | Finals: Oct. 30

Notes: Region 1-3A gets a little crazy with certain teams winning district championships. Pensacola Catholic, ranked second in the region, has to travel to Fernandina Beach, which upset Baldwin in the District 3 championship game. Florida High (District 2) and Bolles (District 4) both won their district championships, and will host Episcopal and Wolfson. North Bay Haven hosts Baldwin as the District 1 champion.

Region 1-Rural

• 1. Chipley (2)* vs. 4. Cottondale (2)
• 2. Jay (1) at 3. Baker (2)*

Dates: Semifinals: Oct. 26 | Finals: Oct. 29

Notes: Jay and Baker will meet for the fourth time this season, with Baker hosting in the Region Semifinals after defeating Jay in the District 1 championship game. The Royals are still seeded higher, however. Baker currently leads the season series, 2-1. Chipley, the District 2 champion, hosts Cottondale to kick things off in the smaller bracket.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida HS Volleyball Playoffs: Eight Pensacola-area teams qualify for regional tournament