The all-important area volleyball play starts today for most teams in the county and state.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association mandates that each team go through a set number of area games during the regular season. Each squad is alloted around two matches per team in its area.

Andalusia starts today with an area contest against Monroe County. Opp visits Excel and Florala hosts Kinston today.

Straughn hosts Excel, and Red Level hosts Brantley on Thursday.

Area play continues until the area tournament starts on Oct. 22.Then, the season transitions into the second year of Super Regional Play in Montgomery, where 96 teams from all over the state compete for an Elite 8 State Tournament berth.

The state tournament, which will be held Oct. 30-31, is in Pelham.