Section play has started

It’s section playoff time for local volleyball teams and things are about to get awfully interesting. What follows is a breakdown of local teams and who and when they will be playing. Look for more information on volleyball playoffs in next week’s Pine Knot News.

Section 7A

Four local teams will all be vying for a place in the Section 7A championship game, but all of those teams will have a tough road ahead. No. 8 seeded Fond du Lac Ojibwe gets the tough job of opening up against No. 1 seeded Floodwood. Carlton/Wrenshall is the No. 5 seed and they will open on the road at Cherry the No. 4 seed. No. 2 seed South Ridge will open at home as they take on seventh seeded Silver Bay. Finally, Cromwell-Wright, the No. 3 seed, will also start the playoffs at home against No. 6 Cook County. All of the opening games were scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, with the winners moving on to play Friday, Oct. 25.

Section 7AA

Barnum garnered the No. 4 seed. The Bombers were scheduled to play at home Wednesday against next-door-neighbor and No. 5 seeded Moose Lake-Willow River. Esko picked up the No. 2 seed and they will host No. 7 seed Pine City. Other games feature No. 1 seed Rush City hosting No. 8 Hinckley-Finlayson and No. 3 Mora hosting No. 6 Duluth Marshall. All opening round games starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 with winners moving on to the high seed on Oct. 25.

Section 7AAA

After appearing in the section title game for a number of years in a row, the Cloquet Lumberjacks received the No. 6 seed and will travel to No. 3 Princeton. No. 1 seed North Branch got a first round bye. Other games include No. 4 Grand Rapids vs No. 5 Rock Ridge and No. 2 Hermantown hosting No. 7 Duluth Denfeld. All opening round games are on Wednesday, October 23 with semifinal action at the high seed Monday, Oct. 28.