Top-seeded Mira Costa leads a field of 32 boys volleyball teams that will begin play Friday, vying for the championship of the annual Redondo/Mira Costa Varsity Classic Tournament.
Played at four local high schools, the tournament has been held for more than two decades and boasts a list of impressive competitors, including nine teams from the CIF southern Section that are ranked in the top ten of their respective divisions, five of the top six teams from San Diego County and four teams listed in the top 25 in the state by MaxPreps.com.
“The Redondo/Mira Costa Varsity Classic is one of the most prestigious high school tournaments not only in the state of California, but in the nation,” Redondo Head Coach Duncan Avery said. “The level of competition is through the roof and the winner of this tournament is going to be well prepared to make a deep CIF run.”
Divided into eight pools of four teams, pool play begins Friday at 3:30 p.m. Saturday’s action starts at 8:30 a.m. when the top two teams from each pool compete in the Gold Division. Third place teams advance to compete in the Silver Division while fourth place teams battle it out in the Bronze Division. Matches are best 2 out of 3 games to 25 points.
Mira Costa remains ranked No. 1 in the CIF Division 1 poll and recently jumped into the top spot in MaxPreps’ state ranking. The Mustangs will play host to Pool 3 and 4 and will compete with Rancho Bernardo, Bishop Montgomery (No. 6 in Div. 4) and Torrance.
A win against the talented Mira Costa squad would be the highlight of the season for most teams.
“It’s tough having a bullseye on our backs,” Mira Costa Head Coach Mike Ninnis said. “But so far, the boys have kept their focus and met the challenge.”
San Diego powerhouse Poway is seeded fourth in the tournament and holds the No. 5 in MaxPreps’ state rankings. The Titans will battle North Torrance (No. 3 in Div. 4), Foothill and Millikan in Pool 4.
Seventh overall seed Redondo is the top seed in Pool 2 which includes Oak Park (No. 2 in Div. 3), La Jolla and Beverly Hills. The Seahawk’s will also host Pool 1 competition where sixth-seeded Mt. Carmel (No. 8 in California) will try to fend off Valencia (No. 4 in Div. 2), Granada Hills and Peninsula.
Action at West High will feature teams from Pool 5 and 6. Third-seeded Dana Hills heads Pool 5, followed by La Costa Canyon, Salesian (No. 1 in Div. 5) and West Torrance.
Fifth-seeded San Clemente earned the top spot in Pool 6 and will play Carlsbad, Poly and Arroyo Grande.
South High will host the competition in Pool 7 and 8. Servite holds the tournament’s second seed and will battle Wilson, South Torrance (No. 5 in Div. 4) and Oxnard in Pool 7.
Although seeded eight in the tournament, Pool 8 top-seed Westlake in ranked No. 1 in Division 2 and 19th in the state by MaxPreps. The Warriors take on Santa Monica (No. 3 in Div. 3), Arcadia and Alemany in pool play.
First place teams from Pools 3, 4, 6 and 8 and second place teams from Pools 5, 6, 7, and 8 will play at Mira Costa Saturday. Redondo will host the first place teams from Pools 1, 2, 5, and 7 and the second place teams from Pools 1, 2, 3, and 4.
All third place teams will play at South High while West High will host the Bronze Division competition. ER
