Maggie Wagner has played well for Nashua South this season as the Panthers, winners of 11 straight, begin tourney play with a host of other local teams this week. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

It’s TTT: Tennis Tourney Time.

While most of the other sports don’t begin their tournaments until Memorial Day and the that first week of June, the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association’s team tennis tournaments begin this week.

It will be interesting, but there have been good upper echelon seasons for the Nashua South, Bishop Guertin (Division I) and Hollis Brookline girls (Division II, and the Nashua South and Alvirne boys in Division I.

There are a couple of matches Tuesday and then we get into the thick of things on Thursday.

BOYS DIVISION I

Region 3 has three Nashua teams, and the best two collide on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Nashua South, Bishop Guertin and the Panthers. South has had a superb spring, the Panthers going13-1 with that lone loss to Alvirne, which is playing in Region 1. In the two matches, South beat BG by identical 6-3 scores.

The winner draws battling North (5-7), and right now the very deep Panthers and Hanover would be a likely regional final. However, their reward would be a matchup with unbeaten Bedford in the semis. Only Hanover and BG have won individual matches with the Bulldogs – in 8-1 losses. That’s a combined score of 106-2 for season.

Alvirne has a semifinal chance. The Broncos have the Meuse brothers atop the ladder, Peyton and Ashton, and that just about gives them three wins right off the bat. They did not play first round opponent Derryfield (which has losses to Bedford and Hanover) during the regular season. But, the Broncos certainly look like they should emerge from their region and take on the seacoast Region 4 winner in the semis on Thursday, June 3.

“The Meuse brothers definitely give us a good position at one and two, and they’re a powerhouse for doubles as well,” Alvirne coach Mike Coulter said. “But we’re filled with athletes down through the bottom of the ladder. We’re tough all the way down.”

Merrimack, which has also struggled, visit Manchester Memorial on Tuesday in a Region 2 play-in.

THE PICK: Bedford over Alvirne

BOYS DIVISION II

Only two locals here, they’ve been rivals and met in the finals before. But now the Hollis Brookline and Souhegan squads meet in a Region 3 prelim at Souhegan on Thursday at 4, the winner to face ConVal in Peterborough on Tuesday, June 1 for the right to go to the semis and face perhaps Lebanon.

The two have tangled twice this year, with the Sabers winning both, 5-4 and 7-2. But always tough to beat a team three times, right? Especially in a great rivalry.

Will Pesieridis has been tough for HB at No.1, but so has Josh Goddard at No. 1 for Souhegan. In the closer meeting, the Sabers took four of six singles matches and managed the clincher at No. 3 doubles. In the 7-2 win, Pesiridis got his revenge in a big way, 8-1 over Goddard, but the Sabers dominated the rest of the match, led by Mike Dodge at No. 3.

This will be a good one. But Portsmouth awaits any challenger in the finals.

THE PICK: Portsmouth over Souhegan

GIRLS DIVISION I

Nashua South started the year out 0-2, but suddenly erupted for 11 straight wins and now they will begin their post season quest to return to the semis, where they were two years ago, when they face Hanover on Friday in the prelims.

In the other prelim, BG hosts Nashua North and the winners of these two will meet in the quarters on Memorial Day for the right to go to the semis.

And yes, South edged the Cardinals 5-4 earlier this season.

South coach Charles Gray said he was very concerned at the start.

“My first season we went 0-14,” he said, chuckling. “I was praying we were going to win one, so this is all a bonus.

“This is such a good group of girls to coach, they’re fun. Maybe missing a year – we’re glad to be out here. I don’t think they put too much pressure on themselves, which is great.”

BG had a player or two not come out but the Cards have gotten good play down the ladder, beginning with Hannah Gilbertson. South has had Priya Shokeen and Margaret Wagner as a one-two punch at the top. The Panthers took four of six singles vs. BG in their meeting. The winner of this region, though, has to play Bedford in the semis. Ouch.

Merrimack and top player Shu Grosso avoid a play in but the problem is the Tomahawks would likely get Bedford in the prelims.

THE PICK: Bedford over Dover

DIVISON II

Alvirne is playing in this division along with Hollis Brookline (7-0), Souhegan and Milford, so it will be a busy tourney.

Region 3 has an all local feel. We get another Hollis Brookline vs. Souhegan first round matchup on Friday while Milford faces Manchester West on Wednesday,, which it just beat easily 7-2. The winners of those two tangle on Memorial Day.

This looks like HB’s region to win. The Cavs are all seniors except for freshman Keira Swart at No. 3 and are strong in the middle of the ladder. Their scores over their local rivals were 6-3 just the other day over Milford and they’ve beaten Souhegan twice 7-2.

Tough to tell who is strong in Region 2,whom the Region 3 winner faces. Portsmouth is the clear cut favorite in Region 4 and overall; Alvirne goes into Region 1 play hot with five straight wins, but would likely get the Division’s other power, Windham, in their prelim at home on Friday.

The fact Portsmouth and Windham, the Division’s two best, could meet in the semis may open the door for a team like HB to make the finals.

THE PICK: Windham over HB.

DIVISION III

Wilton-Lyndeborough, which is led by Elisabeth Jacob, hosts Trinity in a Region 2 prelim on Friday, the winner facing either Pelham or Conant, and Pelham beat the Warriors 9-0 earlier this year.

THE PICK: Lebanon over Gilford