York and Willowbrook will both open Illinois High School Association (IHSA) girls volleyball playoff action Tuesday, Oct. 27, after the state released Class 4A regional pairings Sunday.

York, the No. 6 seed, travels to the Oak Lawn Regional to face No. 11 Oak Lawn at 7 p.m. Willowbrook, seeded seventh, heads to the Hinsdale Central Regional to take on No. 9 Hinsdale Central at 6:30 p.m. The pairings were first reported by Shaw Local.

The Dukes enter the postseason at 21-12 overall, according to MaxPreps, riding a three-match winning streak. York finished fifth in the West Suburban Silver with a 2-3 conference record and posted a 4-1 mark at home this season.

York coach Danny Piwowarczyk has leaned on a defense-first identity all year. After a Sept. 22 conference loss to Glenbard West, Piwowarczyk told Shaw Local, "We have a lot of kids who have played a ton of volleyball, who have a high volleyball IQ and it's going to be how we create a game plan to manipulate the weaknesses on other teams."

Junior Eileen Carroll and senior Ariella Villatoro Nevarez have anchored the Dukes' attack. Carroll earned all-tournament honors at the Wheaton North invitational early in the season, and Villatoro Nevarez led the team with 68 kills through eight matches after switching to outside hitter, according to a September report by DuPage Community News.

If York beats Oak Lawn, the Dukes would face the winner of No. 3 Lyons versus No. 14 Richards in the regional semifinal Thursday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m.

Willowbrook carries strong record into Hinsdale Central

The Warriors stand at 24-10 and finished second in the West Suburban Gold at 4-1, per MaxPreps. Willowbrook also enters on a three-match winning streak.

Head coach Irene Mason, now in her tenth season leading the program, has guided a young roster through a demanding schedule. Mason reached her 200th career victory at the end of the 2025 season and was honored before the Warriors' home opener Sept. 2, according to District 88. She led Willowbrook to a third-place finish at the 2023 IHSA Class 4A state tournament, when the Warriors went 40-2.

Willowbrook already owns a head-to-head win over its first-round opponent. The Warriors beat Hinsdale Central 2-1 on Sept. 23 in a non-conference road match.

A win Oct. 27 would send Willowbrook to the regional semifinal Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. against the winner of No. 2 Marist and the Leyden-Proviso East play-in, which tips off Monday, Oct. 26.

Timothy Christian also in the field

Elmhurst-area fans have a third team to watch. No. 2 seed Timothy Christian opens the Class 3A Glenbard South Regional against No. 15 Chicago Rickover Naval Academy at 6 p.m. Oct. 27. The regional semifinal follows Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.