Thoughts on volleyball pairings

 It has been 10 years since Notre Dame won the last of three straight Central Coast Section Division IV volleyball titles.
 Placed in Division V this year based strictly on enrollment, I believe the Spirits have a clear path to the State Northern California Tournament.
 While it's not Notre Dame's vault, it could face two opponents that didn't post .500 or better overall records before the finals on Nov. 22 at Independence High in San Jose.
 Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division champion Salinas earned the No. 2 seed in Division I and will likely face playoff nemesis Carlmont in the second round on Saturday.
 Seeing their run of 51 straight league wins snapped in the final week of the season may have served as a wake up call for the Cowboys.
 The most competitive bracket could be Division IV, where Mission Trail Athletic League champion Carmel is seeded No 5.
 The Padres, who set a new school record for wins in a season with 25, are in a bracket that includes perennial Division IV power Menlo and top seed Notre Dame-Belmont.
 King City, which is making its 32nd postseason appearance in 33 years, will make the longest bus ride, traveling on Wednesday to face Menlo.
 The most difficult road to a section title will be for Pacific Division champion Monterey. If it can get past Saratoga on Wednesday, it earns a match with nationally ranked Sacred Heart Cathedral.
 Five teams from the MBL's Gabilan Division are in the postseason while four came from the MTAL - including Santa Catalina - and just one from the Pacific Division.