The Ohio volleyball postseason begins on Oct. 19 and a host of Southwest District teams have their eyes set on playing in this year's state tournament.
It's been a fantastic regular season with more exciting action surely on the way. The statewide bracket draw on Oct. 11 revealed multiple intriguing possibilities at the district and regional level.
With (somehow) just over four weeks left in the season, let's break down all the Southwest District brackets and offer predictions for what the regional tournament could look like.
Division I filled with possible regular-season rematches
First-round matchups: Seton vs. Middletown; Lakota West vs. Fairfield; Little Miami vs. Hamilton; Sycamore vs. LM/ Hamilton winner; Lakota East vs. Fairmont; Walnut Hills vs. Princeton; Milford vs. WH/ Princeton winner; Mason
vs. West Clermont; Springboro vs. Beavercreek; Loveland vs. Oak Hills; Ursuline vs. Winton Woods; Springfield vs. Western Hills; St. Ursula vs. Springfield/ WH winner; Lebanon vs. Northmont
What to watch for: Cincinnati put two DI teams in the state tournament last year when Seton and Loveland faced off in the semifinals. For the first time since 2007, we could see two local teams play for a state championship. Loveland, Oak Hills, Ursuline, Winton Woods, Western Hills, SUA and Lebanon were all placed in Region 3, whose champion wouldn't face the Region 2 champion until the state championship match.
There are several intriguing possible district finals. Sycamore can absolutely break through to the district finals. The Aviators could meet Lakota East in a rematch of an epic five-set win on Sept. 17. Milford is having its best season since 2022 and has made the regional tournament each of the last two years. The young Eagles will most likely have to beat Centerville to earn a third straight regional trip. Mason pulled off a reverse sweep at Springboro on Sept. 21 when the Panthers looked like the better team through two sets. Can they get revenge to earn a regional berth, possibly against league foe Centerville?
Region 3 semifinal predictions: Seton vs. Sycamore; Milford vs. Mason
Region 2 semifinal predictions: Ursuline vs. Central district champion; St. Ursula vs. Central district champion
Division II regoinal tournament could feature 4 high-powered teams
First-round matchups: Miamisburg vs. Harrison; Anderson vs. Stebbins; Fairborn vs. Colerain; Kings vs. Fairborn/ Colerain winner; Troy vs. Edgewood; Mount Notre Dame vs. Troy/ Edgewood winner
What to watch for: Like every year since the sport expanded, there are only a few teams from the Southwest District in DII. That doesn't mean it won't be super competitive.
Kings and Harrison have pretty easy paths to the regional semifinal, and what a matchup that would be. The Wildcats have a deep team and are experiencing the best season in school history, including wins over Turpin, Taylor, Wyoming and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. The Knights have turned into a perennial power and have studs at every position and in every class.
After a grueling regular-season schedule, Mount Notre Dame received a bye into the district final, where it shouldn't have much of a problem with Troy or Edgewood. They will probably run into Anthony Wayne in the regional semifinal, a rematch of the 2025 state semifinal.
Regional semifinal predictions: Kings vs. Harrison; Mount Notre Dame vs. Northwest district champion
Several Division III teams look to cap historic years with deep tournament runs
First-round matchups: Roger Bacon vs. Goshen; Mercy McAuley vs. Batavia; Badin vs. MM/ Batavia winner; Western Brown vs. Turpin; Ross vs. School for the Creative and Performing Arts; McNicholas vs. Mount Healthy; Monroe vs. Northwest; Wilmington vs. MH/ Northwest winner; CHCA vs. Withrow; Hughes vs. Talawanda
What to watch for: Looking immediately at the top of the bracket, the quadrant with Roger Bacon, Goshen and Badin could be the most competitive sub-district section. The Spartans beat Dayton Christian (twice) and Madeira during a 6-0 start to the season, the Warriors are two wins away from capping the first undefeated regular season in school history, and the Rams have rebounded well from a losing season in 2025. Whoever survives that group gets Bellbrook in the district final.
Ross should cruise into the district final where it will likely face Butler (20-1). The Rams have shown true resilience this season, rebounding from both of their losses with long winning streaks. They could get a rubber match against their conference rival Bellbrook in the regional semifinal.
The toughest part of McNicholas' postseason journey will begin in the regional semifinals, where the Rockets should face either CHCA or Tippecanoe. The Eagles' 12-0 start was the best in school history, but they have stumbled with injuries over the last month. The loss of Jillian Turvey, arguably their most important player, could be the difference in the district final against the defending state champion Red Devils.
Regional semifinal predictions: Ross vs. Bellbrook; McNicholas vs. Tippecanoe
Fenwick looks to return to state championship glory in Division IV
First-round matchups: Fenwick vs. Purcell Marian; DePaul Cristo Rey vs. North College Hill; Indian Hill vs. Summit Country Day; Wyoming vs. IH/ SCD winner; Taylor vs. Shroder; New Richmond vs. Clinton-Massie
What to watch for: Fenwick should walk to the district final. Don't be surprised if the Falcons don't give up more than 10 points in a set over their first two matches. They could get a fight from Eaton in the district final; the Eagles have only lost to Tippecanoe, Bellbrook, Kenton Ridge and Dayton Christian. Wyoming needs just one win to advance to the Southwest 3 district final but could run into a Benjamin Logan team that has only lost to Jonathan Alder.
Taylor fell in the 2025 district final to Kenton Ridge. That figures to be same matchup on the same stage this season. The Cougars have only lost to Jonathan Alder, London and Bellbrook. After a Cincinnati Hills League four-peat, can the Yellowjackets break through to the regional tournament?
Regional semifinal predictions: Fenwick vs. Benjamin Logan; Taylor vs. Central 1 district champion
CNE, MVCA, Madeira look to topple Division V regional foes
First-round matchups: Cincinnati Christian vs. Blanchester; Mariemont vs. Clark Montessori; West Liberty-Salem vs. Waynesville; Clermont Northeastern vs. Deer Park; Williamsburg vs. Seven Hills; Norwood vs. Taft; Miami Valley Christian Academy vs. Georgetown; Gamble Montessori vs. Bethel-Tate; Madeira vs. Reading
What to watch for: Clermont Northeastern is the top local seed in the South 3 bracket but will have a tough first-round matchup against Deer Park, which beat the Rockets in a best-of-three game on Aug. 22. MVCA, coming off a Miami Valley Conference three-peat, should come out of the South 4 bracket and will most likely face Arcanum, which is receiving votes in the statewide poll, in the district final.
Madeira is the top seed in the south thanks to another 15-win season. The Amazons have been ridiculously consistent over the last four years and fell to a tough Versailles team in the 2025 district finals. The toughest team they'll potentially face on the way to a regional appearance could be Dayton Christian.
Regional semifinal predictions: Versailles vs. West Liberty-Salem; Arcanum vs. Madeira
2 Cincinnati teams guaranteed to make Division VI district finals
First-round matchups: East Clinton vs. Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy; Oyler vs. Spencer Center; Cincinnati Country Day vs. Oyler/ Spencer winner; Felicity-Franklin vs. Finneytown; New Miami vs. St. Bernard-Elmwood Place
What to watch for: In the South 1 bracket, East Clinton will look to avenge a five-set loss to Cincinnati Country Day in the 2025 postseason. After a 2-3 start, the Astros have won 12 of their last 13 matches. The Nighthawks are 9-9 and don't own a winning streak of more than two games.
In the South 2 bracket, New Miami looks to be the favorite after sweeping SBEP in the regular season. Should the Vikings make the district final, they will most likely face Fort Recovery, which is receiving votes in the state poll.
Fayetteville-Perry is in Region 22 with a few Southeastern, East and Central teams. The Rockets haven't won a postseason match since 2023 and could have a tough matchup against Chilicothe Southeastern in the district semifinal.
Regional semifinal predictions: East Clinton vs. Northwest 5 district champion; Fort Recovery vs. Anna
Only two local teams in Division VII, Region 27
First-round matchups: Russia vs. Lockland; Middletown Christian vs. Calvary Christian
What to watch for: Lockland is facing the top seed in the north, Russia (19-3) right off the bat. On the other side of the bracket, Middletown Christian has won at least 15 games in the regular season for the third year in a row. The Eagles should get past Calvary Christian (9-13) but would have to beat Russia just to get to the district finals.
Regional semifinal predictions: Russia vs. Botkins; Fort Loramie vs. Northwest 5 district champion
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Which Southwest Ohio volleyball teams can win district titles in 2026?
