The 2018 volleyball season opened with defending champ Xavier Prep receiving a lot of love. Rightfully so with several returnees and a penchant for reaching the finals over the past decade plus. Gradually, however, top-seed Perry has made its way to the top of the perch and may be on the verge of its first fall volleyball crown.

The 6A state tournament gets underway Tuesday with first-round matches at the sites of high seeds. Quarterfinals are set for Thursday at the sites of high seeds. Semifinals are Monday Nov. 5 at Highland High and the tite match is Wednesday Nov. 7 at Wells Fargo Arena. The top eight seeds host first round matches.

No school seeded better than No. 5 has won state at the big school level this decade. The No. 1 seed has prevailed five times out of eight.

A capsule look at the top eight seeds: 

#1 Perry sports an overall record of 30-3-1 and has gone unbeaten in its last 19 matches. Perry won the Premier Region title with an 8-0 record with two sweeps of Xavier, Hamilton and Basha, three of the other five top-five teams in the tournament.  The Pumas are deep. They have an array of offensive weapons and an outstanding block led by senior Grace Doyle. The addition at midseason of Mesquite transfer Jenna Heller has added to depth at the setter position. Perry finished second to Hamilton in Westwood's Tournament of Champions in mid-September. Doyle is one of the leaders in kills (202) and far and away the leader in blocks (118). Tatum Stall, Brooklyn Poling and Sian Richardson have filled the attack void nicely in lieu of graduates from the 2017 campaign. Perry opens state with No. 16 Westwood.

#2 Xavier hung on to its seed despite three losses in the final couple weeks - albeit to solid teams. The Gators (29-9) are usually in invincible mode come the final month of the season. Not so this year as lapses of confidence have been a bug-a-boo. It doesn't mean that setter Shannon Shields, outside hitter Bri McNight (270 kills) and libero Ashley Yeung (497 digs) and company have packed it in. The Gators have won three titles and been in the final five times this decade. Xavier begins defense of its title vs. No. 15 Skyline.

#3 Hamilton stepped on the floor this season without many truly experienced varsity players. That's likely going to serve them well in the future. The Huskies (31-9) are led by senior outside hitter Taylor Jacobsen, the lone senior with tons of playing time. Jacobsen contributed 383 kills and 350 digs after injury sidelined her most of last year. Freshman middle Jordan Middleton has been a force with 262 kills and 120 blocks. Hamilton has been inconsistent when it comes to facing most the other top five team (2-5), but it topped Xavier twice, including a sweep to close the regular season. Hamilton's initial playoff match is against No. 14 Highland.

#4 Corona del Sol, last year's runner-up and champ in 2016, has been on a roll for the most part since mid-September. Corona (26-13) is led by junior hitters Madi Noble (324 kills, 370 digs) and Nicole Newlin (318 kills). A rise in stature for the Aztecs occurred when Tempe Prep transfer Mary Shroll (278 kills, 340 digs), last year's 2A player of the year, became eligible prior to the Westwood Tournament of Champions in mid-September. Corona was 5-4 in power-ranking matches prior to Shroll's eligibility; the Aztecs won 7 of 8 after. The only loss was a season-ending sweep at the hands of Mountain Pointe. Corona opens state play against No. 13 Desert Vista.

#5 Basha usually finds itself among the top 10 seeds come state tournament time, but the Bears (26-13) have their highest seed since 2014 when they were also a No. 5. That season Basha managed its best finish - a trip to the final four. Coach Terri Spann would like to see her team emulate that advancement or better this time around. The Bears are led by senior hitter Chayse Daughtery (382 kills) and junior hitter Samantha Drewry (367 kills) and standout junior libero Kylra Porch. Basha plays No. 12 Desert Ridge in first round. 

#6 Mountain Pointe hasn't been as healthy as it hoped this season, but is confident it can make a run as it has in recent seasons. The Pride (24-16) are going to miss senior standouts Avery Luoma (279 kills, 541 assists, 324 digs) and Piper Manross (404 kills, 315 digs, who dominate the stat sheet night-in and night-out. They'd like leave with a title and the team showed promise with a strong finish that included a sweep of Corona del Sol and a share of the Central Region title. Mountain Pointe has reached the semis (2017) or final (2016) the last two years - they were beaten each year by Corona del Sol. Mountain Pointe entertains No. 11 Chaparral in the first round.

#7 Mesa has plans to make a run this year after winning the East Valley Region again with Player of the Year candidate in senior hitter Annie Hatch leading the way. Annie Hatch has a whopping 712 kills and leads in digs (403) as well. Younger sister Kate isn't shabby either adding 212 kills while doing the bulk of the setting. The Jackrabbits (30-12) are the first Mesa school in 11 years to crack the top-10 in the final power-rankings. Coach Amy Strawn's lineup is mostly underclassmen save Annie Hatch and defensive specialist Kinsey Wright and have melded quite nicely. Mesa is seeking the school's first, first-round victory since 2005. Mesa opens with playoff-hungry No. 10 Pinnacle, enjoying a similar season to Mesa.

#8 Sandra Day O'Connor finished third in the Desert Valley Region behind Chaparral and Pinnacle, but managed to nab the 8th seed and a bye to the tournament. The Eagles are in the playoffs for the sixth year in a row.  SDO (22-15-1) is led by seniors Alexis Soncrant and Kailey Trapp and freshman Sydnee Broadway. Soncrant has 264 kills and is second on the team in digs with 251. Broadway has 232 kills and Trapp 227. O'Connor has the distinction of being the only team to defeat Perry in a power-ranking match this year in mid-September. O-Connor takes on No. 9 Queen Creek in the first round.