The Spartans (10-0), ranked an all-time best fifth in the state by The Honolulu Advertiser's poll, will start play in the MIL D-II tournament tomorrow at 3 p.m. against the winner of the fourth-seeded Hana (4-6) vs. fifth-seeded Lanai (4-6) match that takes place today at 5:30.

As the top-ranked D-II team in the state — behind Interscholastic League of Honolulu powers 'Iolani, Kamehameha, Punahou, and Roosevelt of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association — the Spartans can't help but think about a possible D-II state title.

''No doubt, it is (MIL tournament) definitely going to be a warm-up for the state tournament,'' Seabury Hall coach Scottie Zucco said to The Maui News. ''Especially because we are in D-II this year where the stiffer competition seems to be. It is terrific for the MIL and for D-II. It means the MIL is bringing a lot more competitive teams to the state tournament.''

One of those is second-seeded Moloka'i (9-1), the only team in the MIL to take a set off of the Spartans. Seabury Hall beat Moloka'i three times last season, including in the fifth-place match at states. The Farmers, receiving votes in the Advertiser poll, will play in an MIL semifinal tomorrow at 6 against the winner of today's 4 p.m. match between third-seeded St. Anthony (5-5) and sixth-seeded Ka'ahumanu Hou (0-10).

A potential D-II tournament championship match between Seabury Hall and Moloka'i is set for 5:30 Friday.

''We definitely have a big target on our backs, especially against Moloka'i,'' Zucco said. ''We are not taking Moloka'i for granted, but I think they are in the same kind of boat in that they don't want to face us in the state tournament. I think both of us want to face other teams. I would love to play other teams, from O'ahu or wherever, to test our skills that way. I think both teams want to spread their wings to show the OIA and ILH that the MIL is an up-and-coming league.''

Still, a state title is on the minds of the experienced Spartans, who lost just one player to graduation after last season.

''Of course, a state title is on their minds, but when we look at last year when we finished fifth, lost in the first round — this year we are just shooting for better,'' Zucco said. ''A state title is within reach, or it can be, if the girls practice like state champions. That is what I have been trying to get them to do — practice like a state champion instead of just the best in the MIL. I definitely won't say (a state title) is the main goal because there are so many other ways to evaluate the season.''

The five-team MIL Division I tournament begins with the last match today, a showdown between No. 5 Maui High (2-8) and No. 4 Lahainaluna (3-7), at 7. The winner of that match will face MIL D-I regular-season champion Kamehameha-Maui (8-2) at 4:30 tomorrow in a semifinal.

As regular-season champions, Kamehameha-Maui and Seabury Hall have already clinched state berths.

The match of either MIL tournament — or at least the one with the most riding on it — could be the D-I semifinal between No. 2 Baldwin (6-4) and No. 3 King Kekaulike (4-6). If Kamehameha-Maui wins its semifinal, a win for the Bears over Na Ali'i would clinch a state tournament berth for the Bears because they would be at worst the tournament runner-up as well as the regular-season runner-up.

If the tournament winner is different than the regular-season winner, those two teams would both qualify for state and play off for the overall MIL title on Saturday afternoon. If the tournament and regular-season runners-up are different behind a team that wins both, the runners-up would play off for the second spot to state in that division on Saturday afternoon.

The bottom line is that the semifinals involving Moloka'i and Baldwin can both be state clinchers — or set up the possibility of a playoff match on Saturday.

''I think we are the closest we have been all season to putting all the pieces in place,'' King Kekaulike coach Kaipo Thomas said. ''The tournament has been our focus for a while now. We want to get that second spot to state, or maybe force a playoff game for the overall MIL title.

''Right now, the tournament is everything. I like to tell the girls that only two teams in our division will be practicing next week and that can happen for us.''

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Maui Interscholastic League

Girls volleyball tournaments

At Kamehameha-Maui

Division I

Quarterfinal

Today—Lahainaluna (3-7) vs. Maui (2-8), 7 p.m.

Semifinals

Today—Kamehameha-Maui (8-2) vs. Lahainaluna-Maui winner, 4:30 p.m. Baldwin (6-4) vs. King Kekaulike (4-6), 7:30 p.m.

Championship

Friday—Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.

Saturday—Playoff if necessary, 5:30 p.m.

Division II

Quarterfinals

Today—St. Anthony (5-5) vs. Ka'ahumanu Hou (0-10), 4 p.m. Hana (4-6) vs. Lana'i (4-6), 5:30 p.m.

Semifinals

Tomorrow—Seabury Hall (10-0) vs. Hana-Lana'i winner, 3 p.m. Moloka'i (9-1) vs. St. Anthony-Ka'ahumanu Hou winner, 6 p.m.

Championship

Friday—Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.