VOLLEYBALL: Breaking down the district tournaments

The postseason has now arrived. Teams have hopefully hit their peak and are ready to try and make the trek to the state tournament.

Many teams will be eliminated this week through the district tournament, as the two teams in the championship game will be the only ones that advance to next week.

Here is a breakdown of the district tournaments:

District 14-A

Dates, location: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday at Union City

Matchups: No. 1 Halls and No. 2 Trenton Peabody get byes. No. 3 Union City vs. No. 6 Lake County; No. 4 Gibson County vs. No. 5 Humboldt

Favorite: Halls. The Lady Tigers have won this title five of the last six years, and this team has the potential to do it again.

Dark horse: Trenton Peabody. The Lady Tide did split with Halls on the season, picking up the win on the road.

What to know: There are no teams in District 13-A, so the top four teams from this district will advance to the region tournament next week. Peabody and Halls have reached sectionals for the last six years.

District 15-A

Dates, location: Monday at Middleton

Matchups: No. 1 Middleton vs. No. 4 Madison; No. 2 TCA vs. No. 3 Scotts Hill.

Favorite: Middleton. The Lady Tigers went through the regular season district schedule undefeated, and they get to play this one at home.

Dark horse: TCA. The Lady Lions have shown moments of brilliance throughout the season. If they can put it all together for multiple sets, they can win the district again.

What to know: In the six-year history of this district, TCA has won five of the six titles. Madison won the other one, so Middleton will try to become the third team to raise the plague. Two teams from this district have reached the Class A state tournament for the last six years.

District 13-AA

Dates, location: Tuesday and Thursday at Medina Middle School

Matchups: No. 1 Dyersburg vs. No. 4 South Gibson; No. 2 Crockett County vs. No. 3 Milan

Favorite: Dyersburg. The Lady Trojans did not drop a set in district play this season, and the tournament should be no different.

Dark horse: Crockett County. The Lady Cavaliers will first have to beat Milan, but if they do, they have had some tight sets against Dyersburg.

What to know: Dyersburg has won seven straight district titles and made seven straight state tournament appearances. Milan and Crockett County split the two regular season matchups, and this matchup in the semifinals should be no different with a spot in the region tournament on the line.

District 14-AA

Dates, location: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at South Side

Matchups: No. 4 Bolivar vs. No. 5 McNairy Central. No. 3 South Side vs. No. 6 Fayette-Ware. No. 1 Lexington and No. 2 Chester County received byes.

Favorite: Lexington. Picking the favorite in this one is tough because there was a three-way tie for first place, but the Lady Tigers don’t have play a fierce rival in the district semifinals.

Dark horse: South Side. The Lady Hawks beat Lexington and Chester County last week, and they are playing this tournament at home.

What to know: Lexington, Chester County and South Side all split in their regular season meetings. Lexington hasn’t played in the district championship since 2008, when the Lady Tigers reached the state tournament. South Side and Chester County have played in the last six district title matches, but this year they play in the semifinals.

District 15-AA

Dates, location: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at North Side

Matchups: No. 1 Covington gets a bye. No. 2 Millington vs. No. 7 Haywood; No. 3 Ripley vs. No. 6 JCM; No. 4 Liberty vs. No. 5 North Side.

Favorite: Covington. The Lady Chargers finished runner-up last year, but they are hungry to win the title this time around.

Dark horse: Millington. The Lady Trojans are new to this district, and they would like nothing more than to pull the upset and win the No. 1 seed.

What to know: Liberty is the defending champion, but the Lady Crusaders are a No. 4 seed this time around. Covington and Liberty reached sectionals last year before losing.

District 13-AAA

Dates, location: Tuesday at Hardin County

Matchups: No. 1 Dyer County vs. No. 4 Munford; No. 2 Brighton vs. No. 3 Hardin County

Favorite: Dyer County. The Lady Choctaws went undefeated through the regular season district schedule, and they have proven that they are one of the best in West Tennessee.

Notes: Dyer County last won a district title in 2007. Winning the district is important because this district matches up with Memphis in the region tournament.

Michael Odom, 425-9754