The state volleyball tournaments return to a double-elimination format this season after two years of single-elimination play.

That means teams can lose a match and still make it back to the championship — they’ll just need to beat their opponent twice to claim the title trophy.

Here are some of the top story lines to watch from District Three in anticipation of Friday’s opening matches:

5A

Last season was the first time since 1999 that a District Three team did not advance to the championship match.

This year’s District Three qualifiers — Vallivue (24-5), Rocky Mountain (19-7), Timberline (13-6) and Boise (15-12) — hope to avoid a similar fate.

Vallivue could be considered the favorite given the format of this tournament, as the Falcons also came from behind in the 5A District Three tournament last week, beating Rocky Mountain twice to earn their first district title in the classification.

The Falcons play defending champion Idaho Falls in the first round, but are on a more favorable side of the bracket away from district champions Madison (32-8) and Lewiston (26-4).

Rocky Mountain has been the league’s most consistent performer the past three seasons, winning two straight district titles (2010, 2011) and the team’s only state championship in 2010.

Although Timberline and Boise come in as the lowest seeds among all eight teams, they should not be overlooked. Both schools have proven they can contend, with Timberline advancing to the consolation match last season and Boise finishing third in 2010.

4A

This could be Skyview’s best chance yet to win the school’s first state championship in the sport.

The Hawks (36-4) won their seventh district title in nine seasons last week and return all but one starter from last year’s state runner-up team.

Skyview also is on the opposite side of the bracket from defending champion Century (36-3), which beat the Hawks in four games last season.

The Hawks — who won 14 of their league matches in a minimum three games — were one of just two Treasure Valley teams to play in a title game last year.

3A

Fruitland has dominated the 3A Snake River Valley, winning seven straight regular-season and district titles beginning in 2006.

The Grizzlies (30-6) nearly won their first state title in the sport last fall, losing in five games — including a 15-13 final set — to Snake River.

Fruitland returns three senior starters from last year’s team and faces Snake River in the first round.

2A

This is the third season in a row that Nampa Christian (14-1) and Cole Valley Christian (11-5) represent District Three in the state tournament.

In that span, Cole Valley has advanced the furthest, finishing as a runner-up in 2010. Last season, both teams lost in the first round and ended up playing each other for the consolation championship, which Cole Valley won in five sets.

The last state champion from District Three was Parma in 2009. The Panthers have since moved up to the 3A classification.

1A DIVISION I

Two of the three Treasure Valley teams in this year’s field are making the trip to state for the first time in school history.

Compass Charter (9-2) — a Meridian-based school — and Idaho City (12-5) are both enjoying historic seasons.

However, Greenleaf (25-6) earned the league’s No. 1 seed and is back at state after a one-year absence. The Grizzlies won a state title in 1986.

1A DIVISION II

Horseshoe Bend (11-1) lost in last year’s consolation match in 1A Division I, and the Mustangs hope the move down a classification will boost their chances of winning their first title since 2008.

The Mustangs are joined in the field by conference foe Tri-Valley (17-8), which split with Horseshoe Bend during the regular season before losing in the district championship.

Six starters return for the Mustangs, who have won three straight district championships.

Rachel Roberts: 377-6422, Twitter: @IDS_VarsityX