Ranked seventh in the first CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll, Redondo Union’s boys volleyball team will host its annual Varsity Preseason Tournament Friday and Saturday at three venues.
At least half of the 32 teams competing in the tournament are ranked in the top ten in their respective divisions, including four from Division 1.
Beginning Friday at 3:30 p.m., each team will play three pool-play matches (best 2 out of 3 sets) with the first and second place teams advancing to the Gold Division. Third place teams will compete in the Silver Division and fourth place teams play in the Bronze Division.
Pool 1 (Dana Hills, Bishop Montgomery, San Gabriel, Van Nuys), Pool 2 (Redondo, Long Beach Wilson, Torrance, Calabasas), Pool 3 (Esperanza, JSerra, Salesian, Chaminade) and Pool 4 (Orange Lutheran, Long Beach Poly, Peninsula, San Marcos) will play at Redondo Union High School, the site of the Gold Division matches on Saturday.
Playing at South Torrance will be Pool 5 (Palos Verdes, Vistamar, Granada Hills, San Pedro) and Pool 6 (South Torrance, Sylmar, South Pasadena, Arcadia). South Torrance will host Silver Division matches.
Pool 7 (Burroughs, Warren, Millikan, Culver City) and Pool 8 (Santa Monica, Rio Mesa, Notre Dame, North Torrance) will play at North Torrance which will host Bronze Division competition.
Saturday’s action begins at 8:30 a.m.
Redondo head coach Duncan Avery believes he has the nucleus to make a strong run at the Bay League title. Defending champion Mira Costa enters the season ranked No. 1 in Division 1 after capturing CIF and Southern California Regional championships last year.
“I have three players that were all-league as sophomores: Louis Richard, Tyler Bird and Vinny Pizzuti,” Avery said. “These players will be surrounded by two great senior leaders in setter Nick Williamson and opposite hitter Nehemiah Iosia.
“You need to play a tough non-league schedule if you want to have success in league. By starting the season with Loyola (ranked No. 2 in Division 1), we have already faced one of the top teams in CIF. This competition allows us to see the level we need to get to.”
Redondo dropped its season opener at Loyola 25-21, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15. Iosia had 11 kills and eight digs and Williamson recorded 41 assists for the Sea Hawks.
Avery’s team rebounded Tuesday to sweep visiting Harvard Westlake 25-17, 25-21, 25-19. Iosia led the Sea Hawks, recording 12 kills and the blocks. Richard added 10 kills, two blocks and four digs.
