First serve

Mike Sciacca

It happens at this time every year, but this is one tournament that

has grown in the past two decades.

Come Friday, the 2003 Orange County Boys’ Volleyball

Championships, one of the premiere prep tournaments in the Southland,

will begin at three sites, including two Huntington Beach schools.

The tournament is hosted by Edison, Marina and Newport Harbor high

schools.

The Division I competition will be held at Edison and Marina;

Division II action will be played on four courts at Newport Harbor.

In addition to Friday’s action, the tournament continues on

Saturday and culminates Monday with the two championship matches at

the Edison gym.

“This is the top boys’ volleyball competition, period, in the

county,” said Edison coach Brian Boone, who heads the tournament.

“With the exception of the CIF playoffs, this tournament will feature

the best boys’ volleyball there is. We have some great teams and

great players in this event.”

Thirty-two teams will compete in the three-day event. The top 16

teams in Orange County comprise the 16-team Division I field. Teams

from Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego counties will compete in the

Division II format.

Among the schools vying for the Division I title are locals,

Edison, Marina and Huntington Beach.

Ocean View will contend for the Division II crown.

The 16 teams in each division are broken up into four pools

consisting of four teams. The top two teams from each pool will

advance to compete in the eight-team championship bracket.

On Saturday, the winners of the Division I first-round playoff

matches will go to the Gold Division (first through third place), and

the losers will play in the Gold Division consolation (fifth through

seventh place).

The third and fourth-place teams from each pool will play in the

Silver consolation bracket to determine places nine through 14.

Friday’s Division I first round matches at Edison and Marina will

begin at 3 p.m., as does the Division II tournament at Newport

Harbor.

On Saturday, Division I action will begin at about 11 a.m. with

Division II play to start at 8 a.m.

The Division II championship final will be played Monday at 5

p.m., followed by the Division I title match.

“This tournament definitely will highlight some of the top talent

not only here in Orange County but in the state and nation, as well,”

Boone said. Boone also noted that several players in the tournament

are being recruited by Division I colleges.

Edison will play in Pool 2; Marina, led by UCLA-bound senior

opposite hitter, Steve Klosterman, will play in Pool 3, along with

Huntington Beach.

Ocean View is in the Division II, Pool 1.

Pool 1: San Clemente, Mater Dei, Dana Hills, Servite.

Pool 2: Esperanza, Mission Viejo, Edison, Newport Harbor.

Pool 3: Huntington Beach, Corona del Mar, Capistrano Valley,

Marina.

Pool 4: Santa Margarita, Fountain Valley, Foothill, Woodbridge.

The Division II pool breakdown:

Pool 1: Los Alamitos, Ocean View, El Toro, Estancia.

Pool 2: Irvine, Long Beach Millikan, El Dorado, Cypress.

Pool 3: Trabuco Hills, Long Beach Poly, Tesoro, Villa Park.

Pool 4: Lakewood, University of San Diego High, Valley Christian,

Northwood.

Friday’s schedule involving local schools:

At Edison High

Pool 2

Esperanza vs. Edison, 3 p.m.

Mission Viejo vs. Edison, 6:45 p.m.

At Marina High

Pool 3

Huntington Beach vs. Capistrano Valley, 3 p.m.

Marina vs. Corona del Mar, 4:15 p.m.

Huntington Beach vs. Marina, 5:30 p.m.

At Newport Harbor High

Pool 1

Ocean View vs. Estancia, 4:15 p.m.

Ocean View vs. El Toro, 6:45 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule involving local schools:

At Edison High

Pool 2

Edison vs. Newport Harbor, 8 a.m.

At Marina High

Pool 3

Marina vs. Capistrano Valley, 8 a.m.

Huntington Beach vs. Corona del Mar, 9:15 a.m.

At Newport Harbor High

Pool 1

Ocean View vs. Los Alamitos, 9:15 a.m.