The District 11 volleyball tournament gets underway this week and all three Bethlehem teams have aspirations of district gold, but who has the best chance?

Bethlehem Catholic (12-4) returns as defending district and state champions in the 3A tournament, but don’t own the top-seed in the bracket.

The Hawks entered as the third-seed in Tuesday’s opening round, which was past Press deadlines and took on sixth-seeded Lehighton (10-8). The winner advances to most likely play second-seeded Southern Lehigh (13-1), who opened with seventh-seeded Northwestern (9-9).

The Hawks and Spartans haven’t met each other this season, but Becahi will certainly be a team favored to reach the finals with their pedigree.

The top half of the bracket features an undefeated Pottsville (17-0) squad, who took on eighth-seeded Saucon Valley (6-8).

The other quarterfinal matchup features Blue Mountain (15-6) and Jim Thorpe (11-6) in a four-five pairing.

Semifinals will take place Thursday with finals set for November 3.

In the 4A tournament, Freedom (18-2) comes in with aspirations of making a run to the championship, as they are the second-seed and opened with seventh-seeded Pocono Mountain East (13-7) on Tuesday. A win would likely pair them back with Emmaus (17-3) in the semifinals, as the third-seeded Hornets take on sixth-seeded Northampton (11-7) in the opening round.

Liberty (11-5) hoped to make a run to the semifinals, as they played in the four-five matchup with Nazareth (12-6). The winner would see top-seeded and EPC champion Parkland (19-0), as the Trojans have been a juggernaut this season.

The 4A semifinals and championship are set for Oct. 28 and November 3.