Let the sub-states begin!

Post-season play is in full swing, seemingly before the regular season even started. Both girls golf and tennis have already crowned state champions, while on the gridiron, football teams are either locking up playoff spots, or fighting to stay alive in the second week of districts.

But as the football players struggle to drag their bruises out of bed on Saturday, there will be Wichita-area sub-state volleyball tournaments continuing the hits on through the weekend.

In the 6A Derby regional, three of the eight teams have their names on the last Kansas Volleyball Association rankings of the year. Only two teams will make it to the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka.

Defending state champion Topeka-Washburn Rural, is sitting at the top of the rankings headed to Derby, but will have its work cut out making it back to Topeka, let alone the state championship game.

On top of the list of teams trying to dethrone the champs in Derby will be No. 3 Manhattan. Until this Wednesday, the Indians were the top team in the state, giving this sub-state two teams ranked No. 1 within a week of each other.

While both Washburn Rural and Manhattan are the favorites to make it out of Derby, there are a few teams capable of upsetting the balance.

Wichita Heights, a fourth place finisher at state last year, has had another strong year at 28-7, and is in the others mentioned section of the rankings.

The host Derby Panthers nearly pulled an upset over Heights in the Falcons’ gym for a trip to state last year. The Panthers are having another strong year, and playing at home could energize them enough to make a strong run through sub-state.

In Haysville, the Campus sub-state features some of last year’s state qualifiers as well. Goddard, mentioned in the rankings, was a third place finisher at state last year after a dominating win over Wichita Heights.

Dodge City is another team mentioned in the rankings, playing in the Campus sub-state. The Red Demons made it to state last year, but couldn’t make it out of pool play. The road for redemption for Dodge City begins in Haysville.

In 5A, Bishop Carroll will set the stage for a battle between four of the best teams in the state. Undefeated No. 3 Andover Central and the No. 5 host Golden Eagles who finished fourth at state last year, will be the favorites.

But don’t count out Salina South or Newton. South, a state qualifier last year, has put together another strong season at 26-10, while Newton is cruising at 31-9. Either one (or both) of these teams could shock the powerhouses in the sub-state to punch a ticket.

Carroll's Holy War rival Kapaun Mt. Carmel will also be in this tournament. Carroll and Kapaun have played close all year. If they meet again, the stakes will be enormous.

In 4A, head coach Bryan Otte has had no problems making the transition from 2A Moundridge, to Valley Center. A qualifier for the 5A state tournament last year, the Hornets are ranked No. 4 in 4A this year and host a sub-state tournament.

Otte picked up his 400th career win this year, and will have to go through last year’s third place finisher, Clearwater, to make another trip to a state tournament.

No. 2 Abilene will have to travel to Russell to play for a trip to state, while No. 5 Cheney will host a sub-state.

In 3A, defending champion Garden Plain will have a mountain to climb to make it back to the state tournament, hosting No. 1 Wichita Collegiate. Collegiate has been on top of the rankings since the first week, and has only suffered one loss this year, coming at the hands of the preseason No. 1 Hillsboro.

The Spartans and Trojans will look for a rematch on the highest stage, with Hillsboro trying to make it out of the Sedgwick sub-state.

2A power Moundridge will host a big regional this year. Over the past four years, the Wildcats have two third place finishes, a runner up, and a championship. Moundridge has kept its mortal enemy, Inman, under its thumb during its run.

But this year the Teutons have a No. 3 ranking at 30-6 on the year. After years of playing second fiddle to the Wildcats, Inman would love nothing more than to travel to Moundridge to knock its rival out of the running in their own barn.

Saturday is do-or-die time for Kansas volleyball teams. Playing without a safety net means anything can happen. Who do you think will be state qualifiers after the weekend?