Following a win in last Thursday’s regular season finale, the Mathews High School varsity volleyball team—the top-seeded squad in the Conference 42 tournament—began the playoffs in strong fashion, easily defeating the King and Queen Tigers on Monday night.

Mathews was scheduled to face off last night against West Point for the conference title. Regardless of the outcome Mathews will host the quarterfinals of the regional tournament Monday night.

Mathews concluded the regular season with a record of 18-5 overall (5-1 in conference play). The Devils ended the regular season at Middlesex, beating the Chargers in three straight sets, 25-13, 25-23 and 25-18.

Kai McCann led the team in kills with 13 followed by Brittany Mitchem with four, Sophie Bandurco and Morgan Driskell with three each, Anne Stewart with two, and Mariah Robinson and Stacey Abernathy with one apiece.

Bandurco led the team in assists with 21 while Keely Crittenden added two. Crittenden led in digs wit...