Misfortune struck reigning Div. 1 state champion Newton North when the preseason favorite saw four starters suffer injuries that forced them to miss the final two weeks of the regular season. As the Tigers went 1-5 in the stretch, the state was on high alert to see if they’d fall out of the top-four of the rankings and, in turn, open a window for a new Final Four favorite.

But with the postseason now here, Newton North held onto the No. 4 seed. And now that all of its starters are healthy enough to play, the missing ingredient is back for a potentially historic recipe this Div. 1 state tournament.

In the power rankings era, no conference or league — in any sport — has claimed all four state semifinal spots in one division’s state tournament. The Bay State Conference has an incredibly rare opportunity to do that.

Top-ranked Brookline (18-1), No. 3 Needham (17-5) and the Tigers (13-7) have a long history of matching up with each other far too soon in the tournament, and No. 2 Natick (16-2) rounds out an elite quartet that has never been split into the four different paths to the Final Four.

Against the rest of the state (in Div. 1), subtracting Newton North’s injury-riddled stretch, the four were a combined 36-0 with a 98-5 record in sets. Needham split with both Natick and Newton North. Newton North was swept by Natick and Brookline, but the first matches between them — with everyone healthy — each went to five sets. Natick handed Brookline its only loss within a 16-game win streak.

The only outlier was Brookline’s two sweeps of Needham, though no program among the four has more championship experience than the Rockets.

Title droughts in Brookline (1992) or Natick (2007) seem most likely to end. But all four are chomping at the bit to meet in the Final Four for what would likely be an all-time finish.

Fifth-seeded Lexington (18-2) is right on their heels, though, showing just how dangerous it can be with a regular season rock-fight against Brookline. The Minutemen are legit, and their own combination of well-rounded defense and a deep attack could very well power it to its first Final Four.

The overall outlook in Div. 1 is also something we’re not used to, either.

The last three state tournaments have combined for a mere six upsets. Only once has a team outside of the top eight reached the state quarterfinals, and only twice has a team outside the top four reached the state semifinals. Perhaps more than in any other sport, this power rankings system has been spot-on in boys volleyball.

But these first two rounds look more parity-ridden than in any of those three years — perhaps best exemplified by Milford (12-9) grabbing the No. 22 seed despite beating No. 15 Winchester (14-6) and No. 7 Cambridge (13-7) in the regular season. All three are tough candidates for the state quarterfinals, and the former two will likely have tough matchups against No. 11 Chelmsford (17-3), and No. 18 Methuen (15-5), respectively, that could finish either way.

Injuries limited No. 23 St. John’s of Shrewsbury (9-10), which has potential as a sleeper. No. 13 New Bedford (18-2) and No. 20 BC High (11-7) are dangerous teams with a tough draw, meeting each other in the state tournament for a third straight year.

No. 6 Nipmuc (18-2) has dominated competition, though it faces an uphill challenge with the weakest opponent rating in the top-10. The winner of Chelmsford-Milford will be an upset threat. No. 8 Braintree (15-5) enjoyed its best season in the power rankings era, which will be tested against pesky No. 25 Arlington (14-6) and No. 9 Acton-Boxboro (12-6).

No. 10 Springfield Central has looked dangerous all year, too.

There aren’t as many historic components to the Div. 2 field in a group-wide scope, but there’s plenty of intrigue — especially at the top.

An up-and-down regular season doesn’t define No. 3 Wayland (12-8), considering injuries and the division’s toughest opponent rating. Behind star outside hitter Finn Bell and a deep roster, the Warriors are in line to make a serious bid for their first state title.

The theatrics Div. 2 gave us last year feel improbable to replicate, as Wayland reverse-swept Agawam in the state semifinals before Westfield reverse-swept the Warriors in the final. Though, both western powers are forces in need of a stellar performance to overcome again.

The only loss top-ranked Agawam (19-1) has suffered this year — in a schedule with Needham, Wayland and Westfield (twice) — came when its star setter missed action against Chicopee Comp. It’s hard to force out of system and has multiple standout hitting options in search of a second title in three years. No. 2 Westfield (17-4) is on a collision course for a rematch with Agawam from that 2023 state final, and the talent it returns from last year’s championship run has rounded into form to feel good about its case for a different outcome than its previous two meetings with the Brownies.

Fourth-seeded West Springfield (15-5) won both matchups against No. 5 Chicopee Comp, but last year’s big Cinderella story took the latest to five sets to show what could be an electric state quarterfinal.

Ninth-seeded Latin Academy (11-10) and No. 23 O’Bryant (8-11) are sleepers out of the city. No. 14 Greater Lowell (17-3) had an impressive year against a tougher schedule to prepare it this tournament. No. 20 Lynn Classical (12-8) and No. 22 South High (11-4) are other potential heartbreakers.

No. 7 Longmeadow and No. 8 East Longmeadow round out what should be a strong showing from Western Mass. this tournament.

Division 1

Champion >> No. 1 Brookline

Final Four >> Brookline, No. 2 Natick, No. 3 Needham, No. 4 Newton North

Sleeper >> No. 11 Chelmsford or No. 22 Milford

Potential Upset >> No. 23 St. John’s over No. 10 Springfield Central

Best First Round Matchup >> No. 15 Winchester vs No. 18 Methuen

Division 2

Champion >> No. 2 Westfield

Final Four >> No. 1 Agawam, Westfield, No. 3 Wayland, No. 4 West Springfield

Sleeper >> No. 9 Latin Academy

Potential Upset >> No. 23 O’Bryant over No. 10 Medfield

Best First Round Matchup >> No. 13 Norton vs No. 20 Lynn Classical