Title chase begins today for N.C. volleyball teams

The road to the state championship begins Saturday for public school girls’ volleyball teams in North Carolina, but most of the favorites will be on the sidelines for the first round.

The N.C. High School Athletic Association’s volleyball playoffs feature competition in eight classes, with the highest seeds drawing opening-round byes.

That group includes a pair of Charlotte-area defending state champions – Marvin Ridge and Lake Norman Charter.

Marvin Ridge, the defending Class 7A state champ, is the top-seeded team in 7A West. And defending 4A state champion Lake Norman Charter is  the top seed in that class.

The top four seeds in 8A and 1A and the top eight seeds in the other six classes have first-round byes.

The second round is set for Tuesday, with third-round matches Thursday, state quarterfinals next Saturday, and semifinals Oct. 27.

The championships will take place Oct. 30 and 31.

Some of the first-round matches set for Saturday:

Class 8A

Providence at Hough

South Mecklenburg at Ardrey Kell

Palisades at Apex Friendship

Hoke County at Myers Park

Class 7A

Hopewell at Cuthbertson

North Mecklenburg at Cox Mill

A.L. Brown at Ballantyne Ridge

Porter Ridge at Independence

Lake Norman at West Cabarrus

Class 6A

Charlotte Catholic at Southeast Guilford

Piedmont at Mount Tabor

Class 5A

Montgomery Central at Parkwood

East Lincoln at East Rowan

Forestview at Forest Hills

Class 4A

Central Academy at Lincoln Charter

Class 3A

Union Academy at McMichael

Class 2A

Cherryville at Bradford Prep