The pieces to the Minnesota prep volleyball playoff puzzle were snapped into place on Wednesday, creating numerous rematches during next week’s first- round sectional action.

The Blue Earth Area Bucs earned the No. 3 seed in the Section 2AA, South Sub-Section tournament, while Big South Conference rival Fairmont received the No. 7 seed.

The Cardinals (9-14) hit the road to No. 2-seeded St. Peter (18-7) for a 7 p.m. sub-section quarterfinal on Thursday, Oct. 27, while the Bucs (16-8) play host to No. 6-seeded New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva (10-12) at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in Blue Earth.

Ironically, both opening-round postseason tilts are rematches. St. Peter defeated Fairmont, 3-0 and 3-1, during regular-season Big South duals, while Blue Earth Area downed NRHEG by a 2-0 decision in the Bucs’ regular-season invitational.

The winners of the two matches will clash at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Mankato East High School in a sub-section semifinal.

In the upper half of the Section 2AA, South Sub-Section bracket, No. 1-seeded Kenyon-Wanamingo (28-1) plays host to No. 8-seeded Waseca (4-16) in Kenyon, while No. 4-seeded Tri-City United (8-12) entertains No. 5-seeded Maple River (10-14) in Montgomery. Both quarterfinals hit the court at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27.

The winners of the two matches – which are not rematches – square off in sub-section semifinal play at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Mankato East High School.

In the 11-team Section 2A, South Sub-Section tournament, six teams deliver the initial serves of the play-in round at 7 p.m. Monday.

The No. 6-seeded Martin Luther/ Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman Jaguars (15-10) play host to No. 11-seeded Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial (2-22) in Truman, while No. 7-seeded United South Central (6-21) entertains No. 10-seeded Mountain Lake Area (5-16) in Wells.

Oddly, the Jaguars faced LCWM three times during the regular season, netting a 1-1 tie in the Sleepy Eye Invitational before downing the Knights 3-0 in a dual meet and 2-0 at the Blue Earth Area Invite. Meanwhile, USC squeezed by Mt. Lake Area during a regular-season dual, 3-2.

The winner between USC and MLA advances to face Valley Conference champion and No. 2-seeded St. Clair (25-4) in a 7 p.m. sub-section quarterfinal on Thursday, Oct. 27, in St. Clair.

The winner between the Jaguars and Knights advance to battle No. 3-seeded Springfield (20-8) at 7 p.m. next Thursday in Springfield.

Both Springfield and St. Clair earned first-round byes, as did No. 1-seeded Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (27-4).

WEM plays host to the winner between No. 8-seeded Madelia (5-21) and No. 9-seeded Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (4-16) in a 7 p.m. sub-section quarterfinal Oct. 27 in Waterville.

JWP travels to Madelia for their 7 p.m. play-in sub-section match on Monday night. Madelia edged JWP in regular-season action, 3-2.

The other Section 2A, South Sub-Section quarterfinal pits No. 5-seeded Mankato Loyola (14-8) against No. 4-seeded Alden-Conger (17-5) in Alden at 7 p.m. Oct. 27. Alden-Conger swept Loyola, 3-0, during a regular-season dual.

In the Section 3AA, South Sub-Section playoffs, No. 5-seeded Martin County West (11-12) travels to No. 4-seeded Luverne (13-12) for a 7 p.m. quarterfinal on Friday, Oct. 28. Luverne swept MCW in regular-season action, 3-0.

The winner between MCW and Luverne advances to face either No. 1-seeded Jackson County Central (20-8) or No. 8-seeded New Ulm (2-18) in a 7 p.m. sub-section semifinal on Nov. 1 at the high seed’s home court.

JCC, which swept New Ulm during the regular season by a 3-0 decision, plays host to the Eagles in a 7 p.m. sub-section quarterfinal Oct. 28.

In the lower half of the bracket, No. 2-seeded Pipestone Area (18-7) plays host to No. 7-seeded St. James Area (6-20), while No. 3-seeded Worthington (14-12) entertains No. 6-seeded Redwood Valley (11-16). Both matches’ first serve is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 28.

The Arrows and Saints did not meet during the regular season, but Redwood Valley did edge Worthington in a dual meet, 3-2, and posted a 2-0 decision over the Trojans at the St. James Area Invite.

The winners of the low-bracket matches advance to play a 7 p.m. sub-section semifinal match Nov. 1 at the high seed’s home court.