Volleyball pairings: Shenendehowa seeking sixth straight AA title

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jim Schiltz

Pairings were released Tuesday for the Section II girls’ volleyball tournament and action begins today with preliminary games in Class C and Class D. All five classes will contest quarterfinals Friday.

The top seeds are Shenendehowa (Class AA), Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (Class A), Hudson Falls (Class B), Broadalbin-Perth (Class C) and Argyle (Class D).

Here’s some storylines to follow and a few interesting tournament tid bits.

Lady Plainsmen look to repeat: Shenendehowa will be striving for its sixth consecutive Class AA championship. The first and last titles in its run came at Bethlehem’s expense, and another matchup with a regional berth on the line between the Lady Plainsmen and the Eagles could be in the works. Bethlehem is on the flip side of the bracket as the No. 2 seed.

Bethlehem won Class AA titles in 2009 — against Shenendehowa — and 2008. Five different schools claimed Class AA titles from 2003 through 2007.

Spartans look to extend: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake is a big favorite to add a 14th straight sectional championship to its resume and move a step closer to the Section II record for consecutive titles. Lake George strung together 15 Class C and Class D crowns from 1989-2003.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake can tie its school record for wins (29) with a tournament sweep.

Class B stranglehold: Foothills Council teams have won four straight Class B championships, with Johnstown taking three in row before Hudson Falls knocked off the Lady Bills for the top spot last year.

Hudson Falls is the No. 1 seed and favored to repeat, but don’t discount Scotia-Glenville as the No. 3 and Gloversville as the No. 6.

Will the Colonial rise again?: The Colonial Council had at least one sectional champion for 12 years in a row before that run ended last fall. Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, in fact, was the league’s lone team to reach a 2014 final and lost to Broadalbin-Perth in Class C.

Ichabod Crane (Class B) and Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (Class C) are No. 2 seeds, and Fonda-Fultonville (Class C) is a No. 3.

Maybe this year: Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons is the No. 4 Class B seed for the fifth year in a row. The Golden Knights had their season end in the semifinals against the No. 1 seed the last four years, including Johnstown in the last three.

The Golden Knights have a potential semifinal matchup with No. 1 Hudson Falls.

PAIRINGS

CLASS AA

Quarterfinals

Friday (5 p.m.)

1. Shenendehowa, bye; 5. Shaker at 4. Guilderland; 3. Saratoga Springs, bye; 2. Bethlehem, bye.

Semifinals

Tuesday

At Ballston Spa: Shaker/Guilderland vs. Shenendehowa, 5 p.m.; Saratoga Springs vs. Bethlehem, 7 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, Nov. 7

At Saratoga Springs: Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

———

CLASS A

Quarterfinals

Friday (5 p.m.)

8. Catholic Central at 1. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake; 5. Ballston Spa at 4. South Glens Falls; 6. Queensbury at 3. Averill Park; 7. Niskayuna at 2. Columbia.

Semifinals

Tuesday

At Stillwater: Catholic Central/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake vs. Ballston Spa/South Glens Falls, 5 p.m.; Queensbury/Averill Park vs. Niskayuna/Columbia, 7 p.m.

Championship

Friday, Nov. 6

At Saratoga Springs: Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.

———

CLASS B

Quarterfinals (5 p.m.)

8. Lansingburgh at 1. Hudson Falls; 5. Emma Willard at 4. Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons; 6. Gloversville at 3. Scotia-Glenville; 7. Holy Names at 2. Ichabod Crane.

Semifinals

Tuesday

At Broadalbin-Perth: Lansingburgh/Hudson Falls vs. Emma Willard/Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons, 5 p.m.; Gloversville/Scotia-Glenville vs. Holy Names/Ichabod Crane, 7 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, Nov. 7

At Saratoga Springs: Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.

———

CLASS C

Preliminary round

Today (5 p.m.)

1. Broadalbin-Perth, bye; 9. Hoosic Valley at 8. Albany Academy; 12. Catskill at 5. Tamarac; 13. Voorheesville at 4. Loudonville Christian; 14. Cairo-Durham at 3. Fonda-Fultonville; 11. Stillwater at 6. Greenville; 7. Cobleskill-Richmondville at 10. Taconic Hills; 15. Coxsackie-Athens at 2. Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk.

Quarterfinals

Friday (at highest seeds, 5 p.m.)

Hoosic Valley/Albany Academy at Broadalbin-Perth; Catskill/Tamarac vs. Voorheesville/Loudonville Christian; Cairo-Durham/Fonda-Fultonville vs. Stillwater/Greenville; Cobleskill-Richmondville/Taconic Hills vs. Coxsackie-Athens/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk.

Semifinals

Tuesday

At Hudson Falls: Quarterfinal winners, 5 and 7 p.m.

Championship

Friday, Nov. 6

At Saratoga Springs: Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

———

CLASS D

Preliminary round

Today

1. Argyle, bye; 9. Waterford-Halfmoon at 8. Fort Plain; 12. Germantown at 5. Canajoharie; 13. Schoharie at 4. Mayfield; 3. Lake George, bye; 11. Hartford at 6. Berne-Knox-Westerlo; 10. Mekeel Christian Academy at 7. Fort Edward; 2. Maple Hill, bye.

Quarterfinals

Friday (at highest seeds, 5 p.m.)

Waterford-Halfmoon/Fort Plain at Argyle; Germantown/Canajoharie vs. Schoharie/Mayfield; Hartford/Berne-Knox-Westerlo at Lake George; Mekeel Christian Academy/Fort Edward at Maple Hill.

Semifinals

Tuesday

At Schuylerville: Quarterfinal winners, 5 and 7 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, Nov. 7

At Saratoga Springs: Semifinal winners, 3 p.m.