Let the postseason begin.
After nearly two months of regular season action, the local high school athletic programs will officially kick off postseason pursuits this week. The PVIAC will hold its second year of sectional tournaments in soccer, volleyball and field hockey, serving as de facto Western Mass. championships after the MIAA switched to a statewide format in 2021.
All sports have added an extra division this year, meaning extra champions will be crowned when the tourneys reach their conclusions. Championship games for all sports are tentatively set for early next week, just before the statewide tournaments begin play.
Here’s a closer look at how the local teams were seeded for the upcoming PVIAC events:
It’s a sizable contingent of area teams across the five PVIAC classes, beginning with a pair of schools in Class A. Northampton is the No. 8 seed in the field and will travel to No. 1 Ludlow in the quarterfinals. Fifth-seeded Amherst is also road-bound, and will meet No. 4 Agawam. Both games are set for Wednesday at 6 p.m.
In Class B, Belchertown is the No. 1 seed in the field after a standout regular season. The Orioles will host No. 8 Pittsfield on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in a quarterfinal game. No. 2 South Hadley welcomes No. 7 Taconic on Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. for a quarterfinal matchup, while No. 4 Hampshire Regional will meet No. 5 Monument Mountain on Wednesday at Roots Athletic Center in Westfield (6:30 p.m.).
Class C features both teams that played in the MIAA Div. 4 state final a year ago. No. 4 Easthampton, the defending state champs, will host No. 5 Mount Greylock in a quarterfinal (day and time still to be determined as of press time), while No. 3 Frontier hosts No. 6 Renaissance on Thursday at 4 p.m.
In Class D, No. 7 Smith Vocational is the lone local side in the bracket and will head to No. 2 Hoosac Valley on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
The Class E bracket is loaded with Hampshire County schools, led by No. 1 Smith Academy which will host No. 8 Gateway on Thursday at 2 p.m.
Second-seeded Granby hosts No. 7 Ware, while No. 3 Hopkins Academy plays host to No. 6 Monson. Both games are set for Thursday at 3 p.m.
In Class A, the Northampton girls soccer team drew the No. 7 seed, and the Blue Devils will travel to No. 2 Longmeadow for a quarterfinal game on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Like the boys side, the Class B field features a top-ranked Hampshire County side as South Hadley sits atop the bracket and will host No. 8 Chicopee on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
Second-seeded Belchertown hosts No. 7 Easthampton on Tuesday at 6 p.m., capping a doubleheader with the boys soccer team. Third-seeded Hampshire Regional hosts No. 6 Pittsfield on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in another quarterfinal.
In Class C, No. 3 Frontier will host No. 6 Mahar in a quarterfinal game on Thursday at 6 p.m. Fifth-seeded Smith Vocational travels to play at No. 4 St. Mary’s on Thursday at 4 p.m.
In Class E, Granby is the No. 1 seed and will host No. 8 Gateway in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday at 3 p.m. Fourth-seeded Smith Academy also earned a home game, and will play No. 5 Pioneer on Wednesday at 2 p.m. No. 2 Hopkins Academy welcomes No. 7 Lee on Wednesday at 3:45 p.m.
Hampshire County has a few chances at taking home a sectional field hockey title, as the four classes feature just four teams in each with semifinal games beginning later this week.
In Class B, Belchertown is the No. 1 seed after winning the County League regular season title. The Orioles host familiar foe Amherst, the No. 4 seed, in the semifinals on Friday at 4:30 p.m. The other Class B semifinal pits No. 3 Northampton at No. 2 East Longmeadow, Thursday at 7 p.m.
Frontier is the No. 1 seed in the Class C field, and will host No. 4 Southwick on Friday at 3 p.m. in the semifinal round. The other semifinal features No. 2 Greenfield hosting No. 3 South Hadley on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Hampshire Regional is the No. 3 seed in the Class D field, and the Raiders travel to No. 2 Franklin Tech on Thursday at 4 p.m.
The Class A field features No. 2 Amherst, which opens its title pursuit on Tuesday at home against No. 7 Minnechaug (6 p.m.). The Hurricanes beat their Eastern League foe twice during the regular season.
In Class B, No. 5 Belchertown takes to the road for a quarterfinal match at No. 4 Putnam on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Frontier seeks a 17th consecutive sectional title and is the No. 1 seed in Class C. The Redhawks host No. 8 Smith Vocational in the quarterfinal round on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
No. 2 Easthampton will welcome No. 7 Greenfield for a Class C quarterfinal, also on Wednesday.
The volleyball semifinals are tentatively set for Friday while the championship matches are Sunday at either Chicopee Comp or West Springfield H.S.