For the 168 girls volleyball teams taking to the hardwood this weekend, a spot in the state tournament is the next step. Only 60 of those teams – 12 in each classification – will make it to the Denver Coliseum though for the three-day state tourney from Nov. 13-15.

While regionals are a regular stop for several of the teams competing this win, there are those reminders that making the postseason is always a special moment. Center is into the postseason after just missing the regional cut the last couple of years. But this is a feeling the Vikings haven’t felt in decade. It’s believed that this is the first time since the early-1990’s or even the mid-1980’s that the Vikings are in the postseason.

Emiliana Valdez and Dulce Palma have each totaled over 100 kills this season and will lead a generation of players in the program that have never seen postseason action. They’ll take on Simla and Dayspring Christian Academy to try and punch an elusive trip to the Class 2A state tournament.

Fossil Ridge is the top seed in 5A after a 21-win regular season. Both losses came in an out-of-state tournament. Three-time defending 5A champion Valor Christian is the second seed, followed by Continental League teams Rock Canyon and Legend.

In 4A, Montrose dropped three of its final six, but the Red Hawks (20-3) still earned the top seed. Windsor, University and Lutheran round out the top four.

Alamosa is 3A’s No. 1 seed, with a pair of Patriot League powers behind them in Resurrection Christian and Eaton. Forge Christian is the No. 4 seed.

Simla, Denver Christian, Dolores and Lyons are the top four in 2A. Merino will try and reclaim its 1A crown as the top seed, with reigning champ McClave, Fleming and Flatirons Academy also in the hunt.

Here is a glance at two regions to keep an eye on in each classification:

Class 5A

Region 11: Loveland finds itself hosting a pair of Continental League teams, which sent seven teams to regional play. The Red Wolves (18-5) saw two of its losses come to No. 1 Fossil Ridge. Senior Ava Schuchard led the team in kills despite missing some time mid-season. … No. 14 Mountain Vista (16-7) has played a lot of sets this fall – 82 to be exact. Junior Rileigh Dixon led the Golden Eagles with 265 kills and Brynley Warta added 213 to go with 86 total blocks. … No. 26 Heritage (14-9) finished sixth in the Continental but hasn’t played since Oct. 25. The Eagles nearly upset No. 4 Legend earlier this fall, taking the Titans to five sets.

Region 12: Two teams that won 17 games this fall (No. 12 Denver South and No. 13 Columbine) are joined by No. 25 Cherry Creek (13-10). … South finished second to Northfield in the City League, winning 11 of its final 12 regular-season games. The Ravens went 3-1 in the Sports Corp Bracket in the Cheyenne Mountain Invitational to close the regular season, the only loss coming in five sets to the host Red-Tailed Hawks. … Columbine tied for third in the Jeffco League. The Rebels took a set off league champion Valor Christian on Oct. 23. Senior Maddie Lynett averages nearly eight assists a set. … Cherry Creek went 4-0 in the Cheyenne Mountain tournament, winning the Sports Corp bracket with a five-set victory over Mountain Vista in the finale. Avery Clymer had 26 digs, and Trinity Fore had 13 kills and six total blocks.

Class 4A

Region 8: This is one of the more intriguing regions. Battle Mountain was unbeaten through 13 matches before dropping three of five – two of which went five sets. It was enough to drop the Huskies (19-3) to the No. 8 seed, where they will host defending champion Thompson Valley and Skyview. … Battle Mountain Cynthia Orono averages 3.5 kills a set, and junior Sky Gwin’s 546 assists and 45 aces lead the team. … Thompson Valley (13-10) finished the year by going winless in the Cheyenne Mountain Invitational, but the Eagles are battle-tested from a tough schedule. Sophomore Brier Johnson leads the teams in kills with senior Kiera Schra right behind. At 29th, Skyview (16-6) won the Colorado League and has won 12 in a row. Senior Marissa Becerra leads the team in digs and assists and is tied for first in kills.

Region 10: No. 10 Green Mountain finished in a three-way tie for first in the 4A/3A Jeffco League with Standley Lake and Conifer. The Rams (17-6) earned the higher seed of the three and the right to host, and bring a balanced front. Three players tallied at least 160 kills, and senior Neva Cook averages 4.1 digs and 8.3 assists a set. … Roosevelt (16-7) is the 15th seed after finishing fourth in the 5A/4A Longs Peak League. The Roughriders took No. 7 Berthoud to five sets twice. Senior Braelyn Bailey averages 4.9 kills a set to go with 61 aces. … No. 27 Longmont (10-13) finished tied for ninth in the 5A/4A Granite Peaks League but three of its losses in October went five sets.

Class 3A

Region 9: Gunnison ran the table on the Western Slope League to earn the No. 9 seed and the right to host. The Cowboys (18-5) haven’t lost since a setback to 4A’s No. 1 Montrose on Oct. 7. Aubrey Weifelt averages nearly four kills a set and Aubriel Loken is at 4.4 digs. … No. 14 Windsor Charter finished sixth in the Patriot League. The Firebirds (15-8) have senior Emma George leading the charge in digs and aces. … No. 28 The Academy (9-14) had five losses go to a fifth set. Ava Gallegos paces the Wildcats in kills, blocks and hitting percentage.

Region 12: Prospect Ridge won 17 games and finished fifth in the tough 3A/2A Metro League, but a pair of losses to end the season puts the Miners into the final hosting spot. Defending champion Village is the No. 13 seed, with Montezuma-Cortez at No. 25. … Prospect Ridge (17-6) lost five of its final nine games, but the Miners are still at home. Juniors Genevieve Forsman (4.4 digs) and DeLaney Ash (386 assists, 58 aces) lead the way. … Village (16-7) lost five in a row in August but won 15 of its final 17 games. The Mountaineers are led by sophomore Norah Hollis (4.6 kills a set) and senior Addison Miller (9.9 assists a set). … Cortez (11-12) closed the regular season with five losses, but took at least one set in four of those matches. TessaMercedes Jackson averages 4.2 kills a set and Keeley Clarke goes for 4.6 digs a set.

Class 2A

Region 7: Swink hosts this region, with the Santa Fe League champion riding a 12-game winning streak to close the regular season. The Lions (19-4) had five players go in all 78 sets this fall, with junior Larriana Taggart’s 448 digs and a strong attack at the net driving the success. … No. 14 Heritage Christian (17-6) closed the regular season with an impressive victory over 1A’s No. 4 Flatirons Academy. Annabelle Loucks has enjoyed a strong junior season, leading the team in kills and averaging nearly an ace a set. … No. 30 Del Norte (9-12) finished the season with seven losses in a row, but the Tigers also handed 1A’s Sargent one of its only two losses in the regular season.

Region 8: Defending 2A state champion Sedgwick County won nine of its final 11 games in October, with the only losses coming to the top-ranked teams in 2A and 1A. The Cougars (17-6) still have Lainee Nein at the helm, with the senior pacing the squad in kills and digs per set. … No. 17 Ascent Classical Academy won 21 games, with the only losses coming to 3A PRA and then a five-set loss to No. 4 Lyons. Senior Madeline McCarthy had 80 aces, and fellow senior Grace Gilmartin averages nearly four digs a set. … Thomas MacLaren School (14-8) isn’t the average No. 29 seed. The Highlands had six players top 100 digs, with Sara Christensen at 209.

Class 1A

Region 4: Flatirons Academy won 21 games this fall, and also split with 2A’s No. 4 Lyons. A loss in the regular-season finale to 2A’s Heritage Christian slowed the momentum slightly, but the Bison need only one victory to reach state. Sophomore Lexi Richman’s 647 assists and 60 aces have been big. … Akron is the 21st seed, but the Rams (9-14) play in the 2A/1A Lower Platte, so big games come naturally. Six losses went to five sets for a team that played 86 sets overall. Sophomore Molly O’Neil has 81 total blocks and junior Kashlee Randel leads the way in digs and assists.

Region 9: These two teams met earlier in the season, with Evangel taking a 3-1 victory on Sept. 27. The Eagles (19-4) won eight of their final nine after that, with junior Ellie Wagner pounding the ball to the tune of more than five kills a set. Freshman Alyssa Costain topped 600 assists. … Cheraw (14-9) is the 16th seed. The Wolverines had a tough schedule down the stretch, facing 2A’s No. 1 Simla and 1A’s No. 3 Fleming on Oct. 25. Freshman Emi-lee Marquez and senior Adisyn Miell each went for more than 200 digs.