COVID concerns complicate volleyball postseason scenerios

Given the recent spikes in COVID-19 numbers statewide, precautionary interventions have wreaked havoc on the postseason picture. Mission Valley area volleyball teams will embark upon postseason play this week with four conference tournaments utilizing three different formats.

District 14C (modified play-in format)

The two top seeds, Charlo and Hot Springs, draw first-round byes, with the remaining games played at the higher seed venue (3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5). Winners of 3-6 matches advance to face the top seeds Thursday. Losers of the 3-6 matches await the semifinal losers in a loser-out match Friday, the winners advancing to the consolation. The eventual champion secures an automatic bid to the Western C Divisional. The loser of the championship will face the consolation winner in a challenge match for the right to advance as second seed from District 14C. The three championship matches will all be played at St.Regis on Saturday.

District 6B (regular format)

All games are slated to be played in Deer Lodge this weekend. Arlee will have played host to visiting Deer Lodge on Tuesday in their play-in match, the winner advancing to face top-seed Anaconda in Deer Lodge.

District 7B (play-in format)

Originally scheduled to be played at Thompson Falls this weekend, the format has been revamped as a play-in type format in which the higher seed venue will host all lower seed games. Mission will have played host to visiting Troy on Tuesday, the winner advancing to face top-seed Thompson Falls at their venue Thursday.

Northwest A (play-in format)

The Western A Divisional originally was scheduled to be played at the Ronan Events Center. The NWA conference will send four teams to the Divisional, which means NWA 3 and 6 seeds play each other with the winners securing the final two berths after the top two among the standings advance automatically. This season, No. 6 Browning will remain in isolation as a precautionary intervention measure against virus spread. As a consequence, the 3 seed will draw a first-round bye much like the two top seeds. The remaining 4 and 5 seeds, Whitefish and Libb,y will play each other, the winner advancing to fill the last slot from the NWA conference at Divisionals.

All Divisional matches will be played at the higher seed venue. Currently, Polson is situated second in NWA standings and Ronan third. But Ronan has one more conference regular schedule makeup match against Libby on Friday. If the Maidens win, their record will tie with Polson at 5-4, precipitating tie-breaker criteria that may ultimately be determined by a coin flip to identify the No. 2 seed. If the Maidens lose, there should be no change in standings stratification. Since there would be no 3 vs. 6 NWA conference district-like play-in, whoever ends up as the third seed will travel to face the SWA 2 seed at their venue. The NWA 2 seed will get a home match, most likely against whoever emerges from their SWA 3 vs. 6 district-like play-in.

It should be noted that all of these carefully crafted scenarios and contingencies could be scrambled even further on short notice in the event of positive CoViD test results or contact tracing quarantine precautions that affect any of the players among the teams themselves or their venues.