It's 25 and counting for the Montour High School boys' volleyball team.

The Spartans will make their 25th consecutive WPIAL playoff appearance next week, as the postseason begins for 24 of the WPIAL's 38 teams.

"I was 5 years old when the streak began in 1984," said Montour coach Brendon Aleski, a 1997 alumni who made a personal contribution to the streak. "I'm very proud to have played a part in the streak, both as a coach and a player."

However, Montour will have a tough time defending the WPIAL Class AA title it won last year. The Spartans finished the regular season tied with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart for third place in Section 1-AA with a 5-5 record.

"It doesn't matter whether we are the top seed or the bottom seed. We're still a playoff team," said Aleski, in his seventh season with the Spartans. "Our approach to the playoffs will not change, but our first and second round opponents will be tougher."

Ambridge claimed the Section 1-AA title with a 10-0 record, while Hopewell finished second with an 8-2 record. The top four teams in each section qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

"Our section is clearly the strongest of the three Class AA sections," Aleski said. "Three of the top five teams in the WPIAL [Class AA] rankings are from our section. It wouldn't surprise me to see two teams from our section in the championship match."

Ambridge is No. 1 in the WPIAL rankings, followed by Latrobe, Hopewell, Deer Lakes and Montour.

"We don't have the stigma of being one of the top teams this year," said Aleski, referring to the fact that Montour tied with Ambridge for the section title last year and was seeded No. 2. "This time we're the underdog. With that in mind, the kids are more relaxed, a lot looser than they were last year at this time."

Aleski considers Ambridge the team to beat.

"Ambridge is clearly the favorite," he said. "They are a bit stronger than everybody. They don't have any weaknesses."

Aleski and his Spartans have spent the season trying to recover from significant graduation losses.

"We lost eight of our top 10 players to graduation," he said. "But we did have the best setter in the WPIAL coming back."

Aleski is referring to Ryan Williams, a 6-foot-3 senior who was named the WPIAL Most Valuable Player in Class AA last season. Williams has accepted a scholarship to St. Francis (Pa.) University.

"We lost a lot of firepower along with our best ball handlers," Aleski said. "But we're not using that as an excuse. We are looking forward to the playoffs, especially since there is no pressure on us. As one of the underdogs, we don't have to worry about getting upset."

He is hoping to pull a couple upsets.

"We were the 12th seed in my first WPIAL playoff appearance in 2002," Aleski said. "We finished third in the section, then placed fourth in the WPIAL, and qualified for the PIAA tournament. Anything is possible when you get to the playoffs."

Montour will be without Ben Grilli, a 6-5 senior middle hitter.

"Ben had ACL [knee] surgery in September and came back right at the start of the season," Aleski said. "Unfortunately, he suffered a broken ankle [on the other leg] during a match with OLSH and is out for the season. It's a shame, especially since he's a senior."

Montour will host a 10-team tournament this weekend. Entered in the event are: OLSH, Deer Lakes, Seton-LaSalle, Thomas Jefferson, Avonworth, Schenley, Erie McDowell, Saegertow, Conneaut Valley and Montour.

"A good showing this weekend will play a part in where we are seeded," Aleski said. "It will be a great tune-up for the WPIAL playoffs."