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2026 NCHSAA Volleyball Playoff Projections: East Region Brackets for All Eight Classifications

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Seven Neuse News Sports area teams are projected to make the NCHSAA volleyball playoffs, including two with first-round byes and three expected to host opening-round matches.

The NCHSAA is scheduled to release its official 2026 volleyball playoff brackets Thursday, Oct. 15, but teams across eastern North Carolina already have a clearer picture of their potential postseason paths.

Neuse News Sports has compiled projected East Region brackets for all eight classifications, from 1A through 8A, using the latest available RPI projections.

Among the seven teams in the Neuse News Sports coverage area included in these projections, Goldsboro and C.B. Aycock are positioned for first-round byes. North Lenoir, Greene Central and South Lenoir are projected to host first-round playoff matches, while Rosewood and Jones Senior would begin the postseason on the road.

The projections are not official. Remaining regular-season matches and final RPI calculations could change seedings, home-court assignments and opponents before Thursday’s announcement.

Local Volleyball Teams: Projected Playoff Matchups

North Lenoir — 4A East

Projected No. 11 seed | HOME playoff match

North Lenoir (15-5) is projected to host No. 22 Fairmont (8-11) in the opening round of the 4A East playoffs.

The Hawks carry a projected RPI of .56366, compared with Fairmont’s .41117.

A first-round victory would advance North Lenoir to face No. 6 Central Davidson, which is projected to receive an opening-round bye.

C.B. Aycock — 5A East

Projected No. 7 seed | FIRST-ROUND BYE

C.B. Aycock (14-7) is projected to receive a first-round bye in the 5A East bracket.

The Golden Falcons have a projected RPI of .58428 and would advance directly to the second round.

Aycock would face the winner of No. 10 South Brunswick (16-7) and No. 23 Northside-Jacksonville (4-16).

The Golden Falcons would be positioned to host that second-round matchup under the projected bracket.

Greene Central — 3A East

Projected No. 14 seed | HOME playoff match

Greene Central (12-10) is projected to host No. 19 Pasquotank County (9-12) in the first round of the 3A East playoffs.

The Rams have a projected RPI of .50001, while Pasquotank County sits at .44823.

A Greene Central victory would send the Rams into a second-round matchup against No. 3 Louisburg, which is projected to receive a first-round bye.

South Lenoir — 3A East

Projected No. 9 seed | HOME playoff match

South Lenoir (10-9) is projected to host No. 24 Northeastern (5-10) in the opening round.

The Blue Devils have a projected RPI of .52719, compared with Northeastern’s .41755.

A first-round victory would advance South Lenoir to face No. 8 Farmville Central in the second round.

Goldsboro — 3A East

Projected No. 7 seed | FIRST-ROUND BYE

Goldsboro (14-7) is projected to receive an opening-round bye in the 3A East playoffs.

The Cougars have a projected RPI of .54884 and would advance directly to the second round.

Goldsboro would face the winner of No. 10 Wallace-Rose Hill (13-9) and No. 23 Eastern Randolph (5-15).

The Cougars are projected to host their second-round opponent.

Rosewood — 2A East

Projected No. 19 seed | AWAY playoff match

Rosewood (6-14) is projected to travel to No. 14 Southside (11-7) in the first round of the 2A East playoffs.

The Eagles have a projected RPI of .41505, while Southside sits at .51096.

A first-round victory would advance Rosewood to face No. 3 Holmes in the second round.

Jones Senior — 1A East

Projected No. 17 seed | AWAY playoff match

Jones Senior (8-11) is projected to travel to No. 16 Ascend Leadership (5-11) in the opening round of the 1A East playoffs.

The Trojans have a projected RPI of .41852, compared with Ascend Leadership’s .42337.

A Jones Senior victory would advance the Trojans to face No. 1 Woods Charter in the second round.

How the NCHSAA Playoff Projections Work

For classifications using the standard 48-team playoff field, the NCHSAA takes the qualifying teams and separates them into 24-team East and West brackets based on school geography.

Within each 24-team regional bracket:

  • Seeds 1-8 receive first-round byes and advance directly to the second round.
  • Seeds 9-16 host first-round playoff matches.
  • Seeds 17-24 travel for first-round matches.

The 1A and 8A classifications have smaller qualifying pools and require separate bracket considerations.

The projections below identify the visiting school first and the home school second. Teams receiving byes are listed separately, along with their potential second-round opponents.

1A East Volleyball Playoff Projections

Projected first-round matchups

  • No. 17 Jones Senior (8-11) at No. 16 Ascend Leadership (5-11)
  • No. 18 Oxford Prep (5-14) at No. 15 Wilson Prep Academy (4-5)
  • No. 19 Durham Charter (4-3) at No. 14 Central Carolina Academy (9-14)
  • No. 20 Neuse Charter (4-18) at No. 13 Hobgood Charter (8-12)
  • No. 21 Ocracoke (2-5) at No. 12 North East Carolina Prep (11-5)
  • No. 22 Discovery Charter (3-17) at No. 11 Rocky Mount Prep (4-5)
  • No. 23 Columbia (4-13) at No. 10 Excelsior (15-9)
  • No. 24 Mattamuskeet (4-11) at No. 9 Bear Grass Charter (10-10)

Projected first-round byes and second-round opponents

  1. Woods Charter (17-1) — Will play the winner of No. 16 Ascend Leadership vs. No. 17 Jones Senior.
  2. Vance Charter (17-4) — Will play the winner of No. 15 Wilson Prep Academy vs. No. 18 Oxford Prep.
  3. Falls Lake Academy (18-5) — Will play the winner of No. 14 Central Carolina Academy vs. No. 19 Durham Charter.
  4. Southeast Collegiate Prep (12-2) — Will play the winner of No. 13 Hobgood Charter vs. No. 20 Neuse Charter.
  5. Northside-Pinetown (9-7) — Will play the winner of No. 12 North East Carolina Prep vs. No. 21 Ocracoke.
  6. East Columbus (11-5) — Will play the winner of No. 11 Rocky Mount Prep vs. No. 22 Discovery Charter.
  7. Weldon (10-7) — Will play the winner of No. 10 Excelsior vs. No. 23 Columbia.
  8. Cape Hatteras (10-9) — Will play the winner of No. 9 Bear Grass Charter vs. No. 24 Mattamuskeet.

2A East Volleyball Playoff Projections

Projected first-round matchups

  • No. 17 Voyager Academy (8-15) at No. 16 East Carteret (5-15)
  • No. 18 Hobbton (7-10) at No. 15 Lejeune (8-9)
  • No. 19 Rosewood (6-14) at No. 14 Southside (11-7)
  • No. 20 Lakewood (7-13) at No. 13 North Duplin (13-5)
  • No. 21 West Columbus (4-12) at No. 12 Franklin Academy (15-6)
  • No. 22 American Leadership (3-14) at No. 11 Gates County (11-7)
  • No. 23 Raleigh Charter (3-14) at No. 10 East Wake Academy (14-5)
  • No. 24 Northampton Collegiate (4-10) at No. 9 East Bladen (16-6)

Projected first-round byes and second-round opponents

  1. Camden County (22-1) — Will play the winner of No. 16 East Carteret vs. No. 17 Voyager Academy.
  2. Manteo (15-3) — Will play the winner of No. 15 Lejeune vs. No. 18 Hobbton.
  3. Holmes (18-5) — Will play the winner of No. 14 Southside vs. No. 19 Rosewood.
  4. Perquimans County (17-5) — Will play the winner of No. 13 North Duplin vs. No. 20 Lakewood.
  5. Pamlico County (17-3) — Will play the winner of No. 12 Franklin Academy vs. No. 21 West Columbus.
  6. Warren County (15-1) — Will play the winner of No. 11 Gates County vs. No. 22 American Leadership.
  7. Research Triangle (17-4) — Will play the winner of No. 10 East Wake Academy vs. No. 23 Raleigh Charter.
  8. Roxboro Community (15-6) — Will play the winner of No. 9 East Bladen vs. No. 24 Northampton Collegiate.

3A East Volleyball Playoff Projections

Projected first-round matchups

  • No. 17 Pender (9-12) at No. 16 NCSSM Durham (8-9)
  • No. 18 Heide Trask (6-15) at No. 15 North Moore (11-10)
  • No. 19 Pasquotank County (9-12) at No. 14 Greene Central (12-10)
  • No. 20 Beddingfield (8-12) at No. 13 Princeton (10-10)
  • No. 21 Northwood (6-16) at No. 12 West Bladen (11-7)
  • No. 22 James Kenan (5-13) at No. 11 Martin County (10-8)
  • No. 23 Eastern Randolph (5-15) at No. 10 Wallace-Rose Hill (13-9)
  • No. 24 Northeastern (5-10) at No. 9 South Lenoir (10-9)

Projected first-round byes and second-round opponents

  1. Midway (18-1) — Will play the winner of No. 16 NCSSM Durham vs. No. 17 Pender.
  2. Wake Prep Academy (15-6) — Will play the winner of No. 15 North Moore vs. No. 18 Heide Trask.
  3. Louisburg (12-5) — Will play the winner of No. 14 Greene Central vs. No. 19 Pasquotank County.
  4. South Columbus (17-4) — Will play the winner of No. 13 Princeton vs. No. 20 Beddingfield.
  5. Bartlett Yancey (17-10) — Will play the winner of No. 12 West Bladen vs. No. 21 Northwood.
  6. Ayden-Grifton (14-9) — Will play the winner of No. 11 Martin County vs. No. 22 James Kenan.
  7. Goldsboro (14-7) — Will play the winner of No. 10 Wallace-Rose Hill vs. No. 23 Eastern Randolph.
  8. Farmville Central (11-4) — Will play the winner of No. 9 South Lenoir vs. No. 24 Northeastern.

4A East Volleyball Playoff Projections

Projected first-round matchups

  • No. 17 Southwest Onslow (9-11) at No. 16 West Craven (10-10)
  • No. 18 Roanoke Rapids (6-11) at No. 15 Nash Central (9-9)
  • No. 19 Lexington (12-10) at No. 14 North Johnston (11-9)
  • No. 20 Morehead (9-10) at No. 13 First Flight (11-11)
  • No. 21 Anson (8-14) at No. 12 Ledford (12-8)
  • No. 22 Fairmont (8-11) at No. 11 North Lenoir (15-5)
  • No. 23 Reidsville (10-12) at No. 10 Carrboro (14-8)
  • No. 24 Southwest Edgecombe (4-13) at No. 9 Randleman (15-7)

Projected first-round byes and second-round opponents

  1. Southwestern Randolph (21-5) — Will play the winner of No. 16 West Craven vs. No. 17 Southwest Onslow.
  2. Uwharrie Charter (22-4) — Will play the winner of No. 15 Nash Central vs. No. 18 Roanoke Rapids.
  3. Clinton (16-3) — Will play the winner of No. 14 North Johnston vs. No. 19 Lexington.
  4. Washington (15-3) — Will play the winner of No. 13 First Flight vs. No. 20 Morehead.
  5. Bunn (16-4) — Will play the winner of No. 12 Ledford vs. No. 21 Anson.
  6. Central Davidson (18-6) — Will play the winner of No. 11 North Lenoir vs. No. 22 Fairmont.
  7. West Stanly (18-6) — Will play the winner of No. 10 Carrboro vs. No. 23 Reidsville.
  8. East Duplin (16-8) — Will play the winner of No. 9 Randleman vs. No. 24 Southwest Edgecombe.

5A East Volleyball Playoff Projections

Projected first-round matchups

  • No. 17 Rockingham County (8-13) at No. 16 South Granville (7-13)
  • No. 18 Southeast Alamance (8-12) at No. 15 Dixon (13-9)
  • No. 19 Durham School of the Arts (6-14) at No. 14 Currituck County (12-10)
  • No. 20 Havelock (5-14) at No. 13 Southern Nash (11-8)
  • No. 21 Richlands (4-16) at No. 12 Orange (11-9)
  • No. 22 Rocky Mount (4-15) at No. 11 Croatan (13-11)
  • No. 23 Northside-Jacksonville (4-16) at No. 10 South Brunswick (16-7)
  • No. 24 J.F. Webb (5-16) at No. 9 Western Alamance (13-5)

Projected first-round byes and second-round opponents

  1. Cedar Ridge (20-2) — Will play the winner of No. 16 South Granville vs. No. 17 Rockingham County.
  2. Seaforth (17-4) — Will play the winner of No. 15 Dixon vs. No. 18 Southeast Alamance.
  3. Fike (18-2) — Will play the winner of No. 14 Currituck County vs. No. 19 Durham School of the Arts.
  4. West Carteret (16-7) — Will play the winner of No. 13 Southern Nash vs. No. 20 Havelock.
  5. Hunt (15-7) — Will play the winner of No. 12 Orange vs. No. 21 Richlands.
  6. Person (15-7) — Will play the winner of No. 11 Croatan vs. No. 22 Rocky Mount.
  7. C.B. Aycock (14-7) — Will play the winner of No. 10 South Brunswick vs. No. 23 Northside-Jacksonville.
  8. Eastern Alamance (15-5) — Will play the winner of No. 9 Western Alamance vs. No. 24 J.F. Webb.

6A East Volleyball Playoff Projections

Projected first-round matchups

  • No. 17 E.E. Smith (7-4) at No. 16 Northern Durham (10-9)
  • No. 18 Triton (8-14) at No. 15 Felton Grove (12-14)
  • No. 19 Franklinton (8-13) at No. 14 Harnett Central (10-12)
  • No. 20 Seventy First (8-7) at No. 13 Southern Alamance (15-8)
  • No. 21 Western Harnett (5-16) at No. 12 Northern Nash (13-7)
  • No. 22 Terry Sanford (7-12) at No. 11 Gray’s Creek (12-9)
  • No. 23 West Brunswick (3-17) at No. 10 South Johnston (13-9)
  • No. 24 South View (6-9) at No. 9 Union Pines (14-10)

Projected first-round byes and second-round opponents

  1. West Johnston (22-0) — Will play the winner of No. 16 Northern Durham vs. No. 17 E.E. Smith.
  2. J.H. Rose (19-4) — Will play the winner of No. 15 Felton Grove vs. No. 18 Triton.
  3. East Chapel Hill (20-4) — Will play the winner of No. 14 Harnett Central vs. No. 19 Franklinton.
  4. Swansboro (20-0) — Will play the winner of No. 13 Southern Alamance vs. No. 20 Seventy First.
  5. Southern Lee (20-5) — Will play the winner of No. 12 Northern Nash vs. No. 21 Western Harnett.
  6. Middle Creek (15-5) — Will play the winner of No. 11 Gray’s Creek vs. No. 22 Terry Sanford.
  7. Jacksonville (15-5) — Will play the winner of No. 10 South Johnston vs. No. 23 West Brunswick.
  8. Lee County (16-5) — Will play the winner of No. 9 Union Pines vs. No. 24 South View.

7A East Volleyball Playoff Projections

Projected first-round matchups

  • No. 17 Overhills (8-11) at No. 16 Riverside-Durham (8-9)
  • No. 18 Garner (11-11) at No. 15 North Brunswick (9-9)
  • No. 19 New Hanover (7-15) at No. 14 New Bern (11-9)
  • No. 20 East Wake (10-10) at No. 13 Clayton (13-10)
  • No. 21 South Central (2-17) at No. 12 Fuquay-Varina (14-7)
  • No. 22 Richmond (5-14) at No. 11 Cleveland (13-8)
  • No. 23 Holly Springs (5-14) at No. 10 Cape Fear (12-8)
  • No. 24 Hillside (5-9) at No. 9 Ashley (14-10)

Projected first-round byes and second-round opponents

  1. Cardinal Gibbons (22-0) — Will play the winner of No. 16 Riverside-Durham vs. No. 17 Overhills.
  2. D.H. Conley (18-1) — Will play the winner of No. 15 North Brunswick vs. No. 18 Garner.
  3. Topsail (16-6) — Will play the winner of No. 14 New Bern vs. No. 19 New Hanover.
  4. Heritage (19-3) — Will play the winner of No. 13 Clayton vs. No. 20 East Wake.
  5. Lumberton (15-6) — Will play the winner of No. 12 Fuquay-Varina vs. No. 21 South Central.
  6. Chapel Hill (12-7) — Will play the winner of No. 11 Cleveland vs. No. 22 Richmond.
  7. Wake Forest (17-4) — Will play the winner of No. 10 Cape Fear vs. No. 23 Holly Springs.
  8. Jack Britt (16-6) — Will play the winner of No. 9 Ashley vs. No. 24 Hillside.

8A East Volleyball Playoff Projections

Projected first-round matchups

  • No. 9 Corinth Holders (13-8) at No. 8 Apex (12-8)
  • No. 10 Rolesville (14-7) at No. 7 Broughton (11-8)
  • No. 11 Leesville Road (9-10) at No. 6 Apex Friendship (13-7)
  • No. 12 Athens Drive (8-13) at No. 5 Millbrook (14-6)

Projected first-round byes and second-round opponents

  1. Green Level (21-1) — Will play the winner of No. 8 Apex vs. No. 9 Corinth Holders.
  2. Hoggard (19-3) — Will play the winner of No. 7 Broughton vs. No. 10 Rolesville.
  3. Green Hope (20-2) — Will play the winner of No. 6 Apex Friendship vs. No. 11 Leesville Road.
  4. Laney (14-4) — Will play the winner of No. 5 Millbrook vs. No. 12 Athens Drive.

Remaining Games Could Change Final Playoff Positions

With the official brackets scheduled for release Thursday, Wednesday’s remaining matches could have an impact on the final RPI standings and playoff seeds.

One matchup to watch is Goldsboro at Midway, scheduled for Wednesday evening.

Goldsboro currently projects as the No. 7 seed in the 3A East, while Midway occupies the projected No. 1 position.

The result could affect both teams’ final RPI calculations and postseason positions.

Other teams competing in their final regular-season matches could also see movement, particularly schools separated by small RPI margins near the first-round bye cutoff, the home-court cutoff or the playoff qualification line.

A team’s final record alone does not determine its RPI. Opponent strength and the results of other teams also factor into the calculation.

When Will the Official NCHSAA Volleyball Brackets Be Released?

The NCHSAA is scheduled to release its official volleyball playoff brackets Thursday, Oct. 15.

Final brackets will establish each qualifying team’s seed, opening-round opponent, home-court assignment and postseason path.

Neuse News Sports will provide updated coverage of area teams once the official brackets are announced.

All seeds, records and matchups in this article are projections based on the October 11 RPI snapshot and are subject to change.

Read the latest high school sports coverage at NeuseNewsSports.com.