With just one week left in the regular season, teams are focusing on staying sharp and healthy as they prepare for the playoffs.

 At this point, most of the seeding is nearly set, but the real goal is building momentum and fine-tuning performances to peak at the right time. This past week saw competitive matchups and standout performances as teams aimed to finish strong.

 With November fast approaching, teams will be looking to capitalize on every opportunity to make sure they’re in the best shape for the postseason.

 Our column is brought to you by our longtime partners at Manchester Community College!

On Saturday, Jen Chick-Ruth and I will be at a big-time match-up in Division 3 between Inter-Lakes and Mascenic.

 We’ll have all the highlights plus the post-game interview/celebration with the entire winning team.

 DIVISION I

 Division I Standings and Statistical Leaders

1. Bedford (14-0) — The Bedford Bulldogs continue to lead the division, advancing to 14-0 with no signs of slowing down. Katherine Allard leads the offense with 70 kills, supported by Audrey Ferlan (66 kills) and Madeline Fennessy (58 kills). Mckenna O'Connell has been crucial with 167 assists, while Beatrice Beskar leads with 21 service aces. Defensively, Isabelle Montgomery anchors with 135 digs, while Melody McCarthy (21 blocks) strengthens their play at the net. With the regular season winding down, all eyes are on whether Bedford can complete yet another undefeated campaign. 

2. Pinkerton (12-3) — Pinkerton climbs to #2 this week, led by middle blockers Aaliyah Price-Gooden and six-rotation player Calli Miller, who dominated against Salem. The Astros' large front row creates a massive block that disrupts opposing offenses. Price-Gooden has 29 blocks and 101 kills, while Miller adds 94 kills, 81 digs, and 33 assists. Kara Porter (176 assists) and Lucy Denu (170 assists) drive the offense, with Isabel McIntyre (101 kills, 30 aces) and Maddie Andrade (94 kills, 106 digs) adding depth as Pinkerton continues their rise.

3. Merrimack (11-3) — Merrimack rises again in the rankings, showing a knack for securing big wins at the right time, most recently Hollis-Brookline and Nashua South. Amelia Walker and Rachel Flett lead the offense with 163 and 154 kills, respectively, while Noor Eldeib directs the attack with 345 assists. On defense, Sofia Victal has been a standout with 157 digs. Merrimack is building momentum at the perfect time as they gear up for the playoffs.

4. Goffstown (11-3) — Goffstown drops after back-to-back losses to Top 10 opponents. Despite the recent setbacks, Julianne Danis continues to be the driving force behind their offense, leading the team with 204 kills. Sophie Roussel plays a critical role as setter, with 317 assists to her name, while also contributing 85 digs on defense. Teagan White adds balance to both sides of the ball with 133 digs and 39 service aces. Goffstown will need to regroup quickly if they want to regain their form heading into the postseason.

5. Hollis-Brookline (10-4) — The Cavaliers are 10-4 on the season.

6. Bishop-Guertin (10-4) — Bishop-Guertin follows the traditional NH volleyball approach, relying heavily on their outside hitters. Akira Coravos leads the team with 134 kills, while Caitlin Harrington (95 kills) and Allison Marino (76 kills) provide strong offensive support. The team’s leadership comes from setter Brooke Partridge, who has 220 assists, and libero Veronica Gomez, who leads the defense with 167 digs. As the postseason nears, the Cardinals will look to their seasoned leaders to continue guiding the way.

7. Nashua South (10-4) — Nashua South’s 10-4 record is no accident—this team is building a strong resume of success. Mia Suljic leads the squad with 174 kills and 28 service aces, supported by Molly Lecklider with 118 kills and 131 digs, making them a dangerous offensive and defensive duo. Makaila Schubert has been instrumental in setting up the attack with 171 assists. The Panthers are no longer underdogs; they’re a serious playoff contender.

8. Salem (10-4) — Salem is in a bit of a slump, having dropped three of their last four matches. While Madi Mohan leads the team with 197 kills, the Blue Devils need more balance to pull through. As an undersized team, they rely heavily on strong serving and ball control to stay competitive. Marina D'Amico (184 assists, 54 digs) plays a key role in facilitating their offense, while Mia Contarino (165 digs) and Riley Blanchet (111 assists, 45 digs) help keep them in games. To regain momentum, Salem must come together and find success as a unit heading into the playoffs.

9. Windham (9-5) — The word for Windham is streaky. When they’re up, they can be tough to beat, but when they’re down, it shows.  Riley Sawyer (58 kills, 95 assists) and Sophia Lopez (50 kills) lead the offense, while Ryleigh Jacobs adds 41 kills and 38 blocks, playing a crucial role at the net. Defensively, Anna Mitrou holds down the back row with an impressive 193 digs. To make a deeper playoff run, Windham will need to find consistency and elevate their game when it matters most.

10. Nashua North (7-6) — Nashua North hovers around .500 but has picked up some impressive wins, including a 3-0 sweep of Goffstown. Taylor Joyal leads the offense with 58 kills, while Hayley Maurhoff adds 49 kills and 25 service aces. Johanna Desfosses is key with 97 assists and 85 digs, while Ruby Zeman contributes across the board with 32 kills, 52 assists, and 44 digs. North will need to stay consistent to finish the season strong, but they’ve shown they can compete with top teams when at their best.

DIVISION II

Division II Standings and Statistical Leaders

1. Somersworth (15-0) — Somersworth’s firepower and depth make them nearly impossible to stop. Their ability to fend off a strong Oyster River team in a 5-set battle says just that. Sya McKay dominates with 162 kills and 20 blocks, while Paige Demers (83 kills, 53 blocks) and Emily Runions (87 kills) add to their offensive threats. Kylie Pettengill keeps the offense balanced with 367 assists. Many Hilltoppers lead the division’s stat charts, making them a true force as the playoffs approach.

2. Coe-Brown (13-1) — Pressure-tested and expecting to be in the final four, Coe-Brown is playing like a team with championship aspirations. Most recently, they’ve fended off Campbell and ConVal in back-to-back 5-set battles. Emma Zeblisky leads with 163 kills, while Kelli Daniel (71 kills) and Izzy Grenier (50 kills, 11 blocks) provide solid support. Avery Keefe runs the offense with 206 assists, and Haile Comeau shines defensively with 135 digs and 50 service aces. Coe-Brown’s ability to grind out tough wins shows their poise under pressure as they head toward the playoffs.

3. Oyster River (12-3) — Oyster River has more losses than they’d like, but they’ve all come against the top two teams in the division. Despite this, the Bobcats are very much in the fight and continue to play well as the season winds down. With one game remaining, they’re likely gearing up for a revenge tour in the postseason. Two key milestones were reached this week: Aubrey Young hit 150 aces and 500 digs, and Gracy Spirito also reached 150 aces. Spirito has been instrumental with 265 assists, while Leah Lynskey and Claire Jorgensen anchor the offense with 96 and 102 kills, respectively.

4. Milford (13-1) — Milford is proving why they belong at the top.  If they can hold off Souhegan for a second time, they’ll be well-prepared for the postseason. Abby Krulis leads with 109 kills, supported by Beth Brooks (94 kills) and Savannah Watson (52 kills). Paige Davis has been instrumental on both sides of the ball, contributing 35 service aces and 114 digs, alongside Kassie Cupin who drives the offense with 242 assists. Piper Greenhalgh anchors the defense with 224 digs, ensuring Milford remains strong as they approach playoff action.

5. Souhegan (9-3) — Souhegan is holding their own but faces a tough road ahead with matches against top-ranked Somersworth and a strong Milford team in two of their final three games. These challenging matchups could serve as good playoff prep, and wins would be a huge morale boost. Julia Colantuoni leads the offense with 58 kills, while Reagan Pepin contributes both offensively (33 kills) and defensively (45 digs). Natalie Shea and Pepin also drive the attack with 44 and 85 assists, respectively.

6. ConVal (7-5) — Despite losing their last three matches to the top teams in the division, ConVal has shown great fight. With four games left, now is the time for them to make a move and secure a strong playoff seeding. Ivy Armstrong-McEvoy leads the team with 79 kills and 14 blocks, while Ashlynn Williams adds 26 kills and 43 digs. Zadie Marshall contributes both on defense (27 digs) and at the service line with 26 aces. The Cougars have the potential to make a deep run if they can finish strong.

7. Campbell (8-6) — Campbell has faced a tougher schedule than most, but they continue to prove they shouldn’t be overlooked. Mikayla Swanson leads the team with 58 kills, while Juliet Coffler (33 kills) and Brooke Roman (31 kills) provide additional offensive support. Ava Grant runs the offense with 173 assists and adds 36 service aces, while Piper Odum has been a force at the net with 10 blocks. The Cougars' resilience keeps them in the hunt as they push through this final stretch of their season.

8. Kingswood (10-4) — Kingswood reached the double-digit win marker this week, a testament to their ability to handle their schedule effectively. However, they’ve struggled to take sets off top-tier opponents, something they’ll need to address if they want to advance past the early rounds of the playoffs. With just two games left in the regular season, the Knights will need to sharpen their play and find ways to challenge the strongest teams if they want to make a strong postseason run.

9. Laconia (8-5) — Laconia reenters the Top 10 after flipping in and out throughout the season. Riding a 4-game win streak, they’ve hit their stride at just the right time. Macy Swormstedt leads the offense with 70 kills and 183 assists, while Samantha Wylie (62 kills) and Kaydence Stinson (37 kills) add consistent firepower. On the defensive side, Gabrielle Linkkila stands out with 152 digs. If the Sachems can stretch their win streak through the remaining matches, Laconia could be in prime position for a strong playoff push.

10. Gilford (8-5) — Gilford is hovering just above the cutoff in the Top 10, but they’ll need to step up as they close out the season. With three games left, including a tough matchup against a stellar Oyster River team, the Golden Eagles will need to bring their best to hold off contenders like Hanover and St. Thomas, who are vying for their spot. Consistency and focus will be key if they want to secure a strong playoff position and maintain their place in the rankings.

Lurking outside the Top 10: St. Thomas (7-6) and Hanover (7-6).

 DIVISION III

 Division III Standings and Statistical Leaders

1. Inter-Lakes (12-0) — Inter-Lakes remains perfect this season, with standout performances across the roster. Cecilia Hornkohl (92 kills, 53 digs) and Kiera Moynihan (90 kills) lead the offense, while setter Meadow True has tallied 239 assists. Moynihan recently shined against Franklin, recording 12 kills and hitting an impressive .556. Defensively, Marissa Anastasio (50 digs) has also been a key contributor. With their depth and chemistry, the Lakers are poised to defend their title.

2. Concord Christian (12-2) — Concord Christian has been on a tear, winning their last four matches in straight sets, including a dominant victory over top-4 contender Portsmouth Christian. They are no strangers to success and have consistently performed at a high level all season. The Kingsmen are building momentum, but the question remains—can they go all the way?

3. Trinity (12-2)  — Trinity has been dominant, sweeping all of their wins in straight sets—a difficult feat to accomplish. They've taken care of business and haven’t dropped to the level of their opponents, regardless of who’s on the other side of the net. With two games remaining, the Pioneers are playing with confidence and seem poised for a strong postseason run.

4. Portsmouth Christian (12-2) — Portsmouth Christian rounds out the top 4, with their only recent setback being a 0-3 loss to Concord Christian—a team they’re likely to face again in the postseason. As the Eagles prepare for an upcoming tri-match, they’ll need to play their best volleyball heading into November. Quinn Arico (151 kills, 156 assists, 60 aces) leads the offense, with Heidi Geyer (107 kills, 28 aces, 81 digs) as another major contributor. On defense, Emma Eisner has been a standout with 177 digs, while Caroline Braman has been a force at the net with 25 blocks.

5. Belmont (9-4) — Belmont holds steady at #5. Notably, three of their four losses have come in 5-set matches, highlighting the need for them to close out tough games earlier—as they say, anything can happen in a fifth set. While they’ve proven they can battle with the best, converting those close matches will be key as they move forward into the postseason.

6. Farmington (8-6) — Farmington has been nipping at Belmont's heels all season, and the two teams faced off twice recently, each match going to 5 sets and ending with extra points. Both teams claimed a victory, going 1-1 in a hard-fought series. With the postseason in sight, Farmington will be looking to lock in, finish strong, and prepare for the playoffs. Zoey Johnson (100 kills) and Anna Cardinal (127 digs) have been crucial contributors on both ends of the court, with Jacelyn Doyle recording 272 assists.

7. Newfound (10-3) — Newfound has hit the double-digit win mark, but their schedule has allowed them to avoid many of the top-ranked teams. While their record is strong, it remains to be seen how they'll handle tougher competition down the stretch and in the postseason. They'll need to prove themselves when the stakes get higher.

8. Mascenic (7-5) — Mascenic has been unpredictable, showing both flashes of brilliance and inconsistency. Fiona Alix leads with 166 assists, showing her critical role in setting up their offense. Maya Oliveira has contributed 64 aces and 17 digs, while Lyla Somero tops the kill leaderboard with 73 kills. Alix also stands out on serves with 30 aces, and defensively, Emma Macinnis holds down the line with 25 digs and 15 blocks. The Vikings have shown potential, but with just three games left, they need to be more consistent to make a real impact in the postseason. 

9. Moultonborough (7-6) — Moultonborough remains slightly above the .500 mark, showcasing their ability to compete but often struggling against the stronger teams in the division. With only three games left in the regular season, they'll need to find their top form if they want to rise above the teams closely trailing them in the standings.

     10. Raymond (6-8) — Raymond stands as the only top 10 team without a winning record, but that doesn’t mean they should be counted out. The lessons learned from those challenging matches may be the key to their improvement in recent weeks. With playoffs just around the corner, Raymond could very well be primed for a Cinderella story. Every postseason needs an underdog—why not Raymond?