How could the 2025 high school volleyball postseason shake out for Southwest Ohio's teams?

It's hard to believe, but there are just over four weeks left in the Ohio high school volleyball season.

With the release of the statewide postseason brackets on Oct. 5, it's time to analyze each team's path to the Nutter Center in Fairborn.

Cincinnati could send as many as six teams to this year's state tournament and there is the possibility for multiple rematches from the 2024 postseason along the way.

No matter which teams emerge out of each district, region and division, there will surely be some exciting volleyball along the way.

Here are the first-round matchups, analysis and regional semifinal predictions for each division.

Division I

First-round matchups: Springboro vs. Springfield, Hamilton vs. Fairfield, Mason vs. Hamilton/ Fairfield winner; Lakota West vs. Little Miami, Lebanon vs. Oak Hills; Sycamore vs. Milford; Seton vs. Western Hills, Lakota East vs. Princeton; Loveland vs. Middletown; St. Ursula vs. Walnut Hills, Colerain vs. West Clermont

Analysis: Having teams in multiple regions opens up the possibility for an all-Cincinnati state semifinal.

Seton, which has only dropped two sets all season, is the overwhelming favorite in Region 4. The Saints could see a regional final rematch with Mason, which has risen to No. 3 in the state in recent weeks. The Comets recently went on a 14-match winning streak but were swept by Seton on Oct. 7.

What are the odds that St. Ursula and Loveland, which played an epic DII regional final in 2024, could face off on the same stage this season after moving up to DI? It's looking like a reality since both teams are in fairly weak district brackets. Granted, they'd both have to get past a Central district team in the regional semifinals.

My other two picks to make the regional tournament are Lebanon and Milford. District titles would be a pleasant reward for having to endure this year's Eastern Cincinnati Conference gauntlet.

Regional semifinal predictions: Lebanon vs. Seton, Mason vs. Milford in Region 4; Loveland vs. Pickerington Central, St. Ursula vs. Olentangy Berlin in Region 3

Division II

First-round matchups: Kings vs. Winton Woods; Mount Notre Dame vs. Edgewood; Anderson vs. Harrison

Analysis: Kings and Mount Notre Dame have inside tracks to the regional tournament, as both are the only teams in their respective district brackets with winning records.

Anderson vs. Harrison could be the best district semifinal. The Raptors did beat the Wildcats in four sets on Sept. 13. The winner of that match will most likely face Northmont, which is the only team with a winning record out of the North.

Regional semifinal predictions: Kings vs. Dublin Scioto, Mount Notre Dame vs. Anderson

Division III

First-round matchups: Hughes vs. New Richmond, Mt. Healthy vs. Ursuline; Turpin vs. Northwest, Western Brown vs. Wilmington; Badin vs. Goshen, Withrow vs. Talawanda; Ross vs. Woodward, Monroe vs. Ross/Woodward winner

Analysis: Before the season, many would have seen Ursuline and Turpin playing in a second straight regional final. Instead, they will most likely meet in the regional semifinal.

Don't be mistaken, the DIII regional tournament will be incredibly talented. Tippecanoe, which pushed Ursuline to five sets last year, is undefeated this season. Ross won its first outright Southwestern Buckeye League title and set a program record for wins.

The most intriguing bracket in DIII, Region 12 involves Badin and Talawanda. The Rams and Brave face off on Oct. 9 and will most likely see each other again in the district semifinal. Talawanda is 14-6 so far. Badin is 8-11 after graduating a talented senior class.

Regional semifinal predictions: Ursuline vs. Turpin, Ross vs. Tippecanoe

Division IV

First-round matchups: DePaul Cristo-Rey vs. North College Hill, McNicholas vs. DPCR/ NCH winner; Gamble Montessori vs. Clinton-Massie; Waynesville vs. Dunbar; Bethel-Tate vs. Purcell Marian; Indian Hill vs. BT/ PM winner, Fenwick vs. Shroder; Taylor vs. Roger Bacon, Mercy McAuley vs. Taft; Batavia vs. Wyoming, CHCA vs. SCPA

Analysis: Cincinnati has four of the top five teams in the state in Division IV (No. 1 McNicholas, No. 2 Fenwick, No. 3 CHCA, No. 5 Taylor). Add in Roger Bacon and Mercy McAuley, who, even with sub-.500 records, will always be competitive in the postseason. One word to describe the regional tournament: electric. No matter which teams will be featured, those three matches will produce some of the best volleyball in the state.

Taylor, Roger Bacon and Mercy McAuley all being in the same district is tough. Whichever team makes it out alive will earn a berth to the district final and should advance to the regional semifinal.

Regional semifinal predictions: McNicholas vs. CHCA, Fenwick vs. Mercy McAuley

Division V

First-round matchups: Georgetown vs. Blanchester, Madeira vs. Georgetown/ Blanchester winner, Seven Hills vs. Norwood; Clermont Northeastern vs. Mariemont, Deer Park vs. Williamsburg; Summit Country Day vs. Clark Montessori, Reading vs. Finneytown

Analysis: Division V is where we start to see a lot of Cincinnati Hills League, Miami Valley Conference and Southern Buckeye Athletic & Academic Conference teams.

Madeira is the highest seed in its portion of the bracket. The Amazons would face either Norwood or Seven Hills in the district semifinal. Those two are a combined 0-5 against the CHL this season.

As for the Clermont Northeastern/ Mariemont/ Deer Park/ Williamsburg sector, you could pick a name out of hat as to who makes the district final. Mariemont and Deer Park split their season series, as did CNE and Williamsburg.

Once the postseason begins, Summit Country Day will be five wins away from its first-ever state tournament. The regional tournament could be the hardest part of the journey as the Silver Knights would probably face either Milford Center Fairbanks or Versailles, which ended SCD's 2024 campaign in the district final. Both teams appeared in the 2024 DV regional tournament.

Regional semifinal predictions: Versailles vs. Milford Center Fairbanks, Summit Country Day vs. Miami East

Division VI

First-round matchups: MVCA vs. Oyler, Fayetteville-Perry vs. Cincinnati Christian; Cincinnati Country Day vs. St. Bernard-Elmwood Place, East Clinton vs. CCD/ SBEP winner

Analysis: Two teams from The Enquirer's coverage area are guaranteed to make the district finals. East Clinton (19-2) and MVCA (15-4) are the top two seeds in the South brackets. East Clinton could face North No. 1 seed Arcanum (17-4), which has won three straight Western Ohio Athletic Conference titles but has also only won three postseason games since 2021.

An intriguing early-round possible matchup is MVCA vs. Cincinnati Christian. The Lions won their third Miami Valley Conference title in the last five years, but the Cougars have arguably played a tougher schedule.

Regional semifinalist predictions: St. Henry vs. MVCA, East Clinton vs. Fort Recovery

Division VII

First-round matchups: Felicity-Franklin vs. Spencer, New Miami vs. Felicity-Franklin. Spencer winner; CCPA vs. Lockland, Middletown Christian vs. CCPA/ Lockland winner;

Analysis: Just like in DVI, Southwest Ohio is guaranteed two district finalists. The only problem is, whichever teams make it that far will most likely face state-ranked Russia and Covington.

Middletown Christian and New Miami are the top two seeds in the South and will each only have to win one game to get to the district final.

Regional semifinalist predictions: Russia vs. Leipsic, Covington vs. Fort Loramie

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Southwest Ohio 2025 high school volleyball postseason preview