On the local volleyball front, how things shape out in newfangled Area 6-AAAAA promises to make for an interesting finale to the 2012 season.

Without about a month left in the regular season, DeKalb teams will be looking to gain or maintain enough momentum to propel them into postseason contention.

Seating for that party is limited. Only the top four teams in each area advance to the playoffs.

 Lakeside, DeKalb

Based on it recent success, the Lakeside, DeKalb squad should perhaps be considered the class of the area.

The Lady Vikings, under coach Angela Thompson, earned a berth in the Elite 8 round of the 2011 Class AAAA playoffs, where they were dispatched by eventual state runner-up Whitewater.

Early on, Lakeside’s winning ways from a season ago appear to be carrying over into its 2012 campaign. The Lady Vikings went 3-1 at the North Cobb tourney opener.

Lakeside is currently prepping for its Senior Night, to be held Thursday before matches against Tucker and Decatur get underway.

Five seniors currently occupy spots on the 2012 roster, including six-foot middle blockers Brittany Scott and Emma Wakeman. The Lady Vikings might find them-selves in the thick of things the next couple years, thanks to a standout junior class and 6 foot 1 sophomore middle blocker Raven Smith.

The Lady Vikings are next set to tussle with area foes Arabia Moun-tain, Stephenson and Miller Grove Tuesday.

 The rest of the field

The Dunwoody Lady Wildcats, Stephenson Lady Jaguars and Tucker Lady Tigers are among the DeKalb teams vying to be in the mix by the time the area tournament rolls around in early October.

For each of them and their league rivals, it may be tough sled-ding between now and then.

Each program has fielded a 2012 squad featuring talent and potential. In a sport where powerhouse prep programs tend to routinely lay waste to the competition year after year, breakthrough seasons by rival teams are typically at a premium.

Perhaps, either one or all of the three aforementioned teams will step to the fore this season.