Tournament time just around the corner
Lake Travis will undoubtedly star at the Nike Tournament.
Photo by Jim Redman
Be it promoted as a "power" event or "tournament of champions" or "best of the west" or "east," each state has a high school volleyball team that commands attention. But while the competition is outstanding at each, there are a few that command more than statewide attention.
Among the first that have earned national distinction would be the Nike Tournament hosted by
Pearland (Texas). The two-day event (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) will feature close to 80 teams competing at seven campuses and on 21 courts.
Lake Travis High School grabbed the national spotlight by taking home gold and is the featured team in the tournament this year after completing 2011 unbeaten in 50 matches.
Two weeks later, Sept. 14-15, the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas will feature the two teams that reached the 2011 finals: champion Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) and
Los Alamitos (Calif.).
Other teams entered include highly regarded
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas),
Seaquam (Delta, British Columbia),
Xavier College Prep (Phoenix),
Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.),
Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.),
Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.) and a pair of Hawaiian teams to name a few of the headliners.
Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.) hosts one of the premier tournaments in the south (Sept. 21-22).
Chattahoochee (Alpharetta, Ga.) is the returning champion. Other top teams include
Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.),
Lake Mary (Fla.),
Leon (Tallahassee, Fla.),
Howell (St. Charles, Mo.) and
Springstead (Spring Hill, Fla.).
Assumption will remain in the national spotlight when it travels to Chicago Sept. 28-29, to defend its Asics Challenge Volleyball Tournament title in Chicago. Assumption defeated Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.) for the title in 2011.
In mid-October, The Rhode Island Tournament of Champions draws the top teams from the Northeast, including Barnstable (Hyannis, Mass.).
The Nike Tournament of Champions will be held in Phoenix, Oct. 19-21, and will feature 60-plus teams from nine states. San Diego Cathedral Catholic won the tournament championship after beating Chicago Marist in three games.
