Milford's Savannah Watson dives for a dig as teammates Piper Greenhalgh (4) and Paige Davis look on during last year's Division II semifinals vs. Coe-Brown at Pinkerton Academy. (File photo)

As beautiful as the weather has been the last week plus, sometimes the fall season will shift us indoors.

That’s the case tonight when most of the area’s high school girls volleyball teams open their season, so here’s a look at what to expect:

DIVISION I

The Hollis Brookline Cavaliers remain likely the best area team in this group, with 10 players back from last year’s team that fell in the quarters. Returning starters include senior hitter Hershey Vedula, junior setter Max Walsh, junior middle hitter Sam Burke, and sophomore setter Harper Sarris. Keep an eye too on senior Shelby Klassens, juniorHailey Klaassens and nicole Kosakowski.

“It’s a good mix of talented newcomers and veterans,” HB coach Becky Balfour said. “The season will feature a lot of parity in Division I, and, as a Division II sized school, we’re once again up for the Divsion I challenge.”

Nashua South had great regular season last year but got knocked out early in the first round. This year’s team will forge its own identity with just two returning starters, senior setter Rebecca Walters and junior middle hitter Hannah Perez. Keepe an eye on sophoores Briley Landsteiner (libero), Lexi McGuire (setter) and Riley Britton (outside hitter).

“We have a young scrappy team that is looking to make their own name for themselves after last year’s seniors graduated,” Panthers coach Tom Langer said.

Nashua North had a good season last year as well, but the Titans met their match in the Cavs in the first round, although it was a prelim battle.

The Titans have seniors Amaya Gordon, Hayley Maurhof, Kylie Rizzo, Mariana Cajigas-Tello and junior Ruby Zeman head the upperclassmen, and there’s a good mix of sophomores and freshmen.

“I’m excited for the combination of ‘old/experienced’ meets ‘new’,” North coach Cassandra Desfosses said. “We have a cool dynamic where we have great returning upperclassmen leaders, with some hungry underclassmen who will keep them on their toes … Looking forward to the season and watching them grow together.”

Bishop Guertin had a great run last season, taking fivepeat Bedford to five sets in the semis before bowing. That team’s coach, Kyle Clement, stepped away for family reasons, and new coach Matt Erb has a nucleus of potential All-Staters he hopes can contend again: Caitlin Harrington, a junior hitter; Claudie Daniel, a sophomore setter; Annie Hammond, a senior outside hitter; and senior Thalia Drapeau, a senior middle hitter.

“Caitlin is a dominant offensive force from all areas of the court,” Erb said, adding that Hammond is “establishing herself as the program leader.”

The Cards start out same way they exited 2024: Vs. Bedford tonight at the Colligadome.

Merrimack graduated eight keys from its most successful season (12-6 regular season) in the last eight years. A small group of seniors were eligible to return:Leah Monroe, Bella Stles, Sadie Cote, and Avary Cruz. Mia Cruz and Lucy Althouse were the only current juniors who played last year so a rebuild appears in order.

“This is a rebuilding year for sure ” Merrimack coach Tammy Lambrou said. “Our outlook is to get better everyday and continue to grow the program from the middle school up.”

Alvirne will be looking to do something it didn’t do a year ago – win a match. Key players include senior middle hitter Lisa Amadi, senior libero Carolyn McElhinney and senior setter-hitter Cori Sevigny. There’s six others back: seniors Victorie Suppa, Aliyah Camargo and Collette Ivos, plus juniors Mena Lewis, Hailee Lane, and Samantha Schiller. There are also a handful of junior newcomers, so the program is still making strides.

“After going 0-18, there’s nowhere to go but up,” Alvirne coach Jason Lewis said. “I have a lot of confidence in this team; I need to make sure they have confidence in themselves. They’ve ut some time in over the summer in our summer league with good results, and nowwe just need to get those results to transfer to the regular season.”

DIVISION II

The Spartans of Milford reached the finals last year, and they’ve got high expectations according to co-coaches Pedro Campos and Gabriella Monico.

The upper class nucleus of seniors Piper Greenhalgh, Kassandra Cupin, and Savannah Watson plus sophomore Harper Anderson “are returning at their best, bringing experience and strength that will be vital to the team’s competitive edge,” Monico said. Also keep an eye on freshmen Rachel Sixon and Piper Ross.

“The team is building on a strong foundation of talent, discipline and teammwork,” Monico said.

Campbell is looking to make inroads; the Cougars were a semifinal team two years ago. They have five starters back from last year’s tourney team, starting with All-State setter Ava Grant,a junior, who teams with fellow junior Mikayla Swanson, the Cougars’ leading attacker.

Senior middle blocker Brooke Roman, junior Izzy Larose (moving to OH this year) and senior libero Dani D’Onofrio are other key returners.

“We’re excited about the season with five returning starters,” Campbell coach Robin Bostic said.

Souhegan graduated a half dozen from a 12-4 team, and had just as many seniors eligible to return: Natalie Shea, Mailey Siska, Adeline Corcoran, Callie Tower, Chase Harms and Juliana Koch. So it could be another competitive year for the Sabers.