Creston will host Carlisle, with the winner to play at Norwalk to open regional volleyball play this season.
In recent years the Panthers have faced Glenwood and Lewis Central in the opening two rounds. But those two schools are in the top half of Class 4A Region 3 this year, facing off in the Oct. 26 opener at Lewis Central.
Lewis Central (22-3) is the only Class 4A ranked team in the region. They open against Glenwood (13-6) with the winner facing ADM (13-13) at LC.
Creston (11-6) hosts Carlisle (4-14) at 7 p.m. Oct. 26, with the winner playing at Norwalk (20-8) on Oct. 29. The regional final is scheduled Nov. 3 at Atlantic at 6 p.m., leading off a regional final doubleheader in the Trojan gym.
Southwest Valley opens Class 2A play on Oct. 20 at home against Clarinda Academy. Quarterfinals are Oct. 27, semifinals on Oct. 30 and finals on Nov. 4.
All other area schools are in Class 1A play that begins Oct. 20, with the same postseason schedule as Class 2A.
The pairings:
Class 4A
(7 p.m. unless noted)
Region 3
Quarterfinals Oct. 26 — Carlisle at Creston; Glenwood at Lewis Central.
Semifinals Oct. 29 — Creston/Carlisle at Norwalk; Lewis Central/Glenwood vs. ADM at Lewis Central.
Regional final at Atlantic, 6 p.m. Nov. 3.
Region 2
Quarterfinals Oct. 26 — Des Moines Hoover at Winterset; Perry at Dallas Center-Grimes.
Semifinals Oct. 29 — Winterset/Hoover at Bondurant-Farrar; DC-G/Perry at Harlan.
Regional final Nov. 3 at Guthrie Center.
Class 2A
First round Oct. 20; quarterfinals Oct. 27; semifinals Oct. 30; finals Nov. 4.
Region 3
Logan-Magnolia at Underwood (winner at St. Albert); Clarinda Academy at Southwest Valley (winner at Treynor); AHSTW at Missouri Valley (winner at Tri-Center); West Central Valley at Earlham (winner at Panorama).
Semifinals at St. Albert and Tri-Center (Neola).
Final at Treynor.
Region 4
Pella Christian at North Mahaska (winner at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont); Van Buren at Pekin (winner at Cardinal, Eldon); Central Decatur at Interstate 35, Truro (winner vs. Martensdale-St. Marys at Truro); Pleasantville at Des Moines Christian (winner at Van Meter).
Semifinals at Eddyvile and Truro.
Final at Pleasantville.
Class 1A
First round Oct. 20; quarterfinals Oct. 27; semifinals Oct. 30; finals Nov. 4.
Region 3
Heartland Christian at Sidney (winner vs. Nishnabotna at Sidney); Riverside at Fremont-Mills; East Mills at Griswold; Diagonal at Mount Ayr; Lamoni at Bedford; Lenox at Stanton; South Page at Essex.
Quarterfinals at Sidney, Tabor (Fremont-Mills), Mount Ayr and Stanton.
Semifinals at Sidney and Bedford.
Final at Clarinda.
Region 4
Glidden-Ralston at Coon Rapids-Bayard (winner at Audubon); Paton-Churdan at Adair-Casey; Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton at CAM, Anita; Grand View Christian at Nodaway Valley (winner at Guthrie Center); Iowa Christian Academy at Murray.
Quarterfinals at Audubon, Adair, Guthrie Center and Murray.
Semifinals at Audubon and Greenfield.
Final at Guthrie Center.