Volleyball tourney debuts in O.C.

The 2008 Orange County Boys Volleyball Championships, considered the county’s premiere tournament, opens today at three area high schools.

Laguna Beach is one of 24 county teams among the 32-team tournament.

Edison, Fountain Valley and Newport Harbor will play host to the 32-team event that is composed of eight pools of four teams split into two divisions.

Edison and Fountain Valley will host Division I bracket play both today and Saturday; Newport Harbor will host the Division II competition on both days. The Gold Division final will be Monday at about 7 p.m. at Edison.

“This year’s field is extremely strong and should create some intense competition,” Edison Coach Brian Boone said.

Last weekend, Laguna competed at the Foothill Tournament and advanced to the quarterfinal round where it lost to Dana Hills.

“We played with a new-found energy and all-in-all, it was a positive step forward,” Laguna Coach Lance Stewart said of his team’s performance at the Foothill Tournament.

The Breakers begin the Orange County Championships tournament at 3 p.m. today against host Fountain Valley.

Laguna also plays at 5 p.m. again JSerra. The Breakers complete pool play at 9 a.m. Saturday against San Clemente.

“It’s the premiere tournament in the county,” Stewart said. “I think most of the top 10 teams (in the county) are in it.

“There are no breaks in the tournament. Every match is a dogfight.”

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Division I pools

Pool 1: Los Alamitos, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Esperanza.

Pool 2: Newport Harbor, Mater Dei, Woodbridge, Tesoro.

Pool 3: Fountain Valley, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, JSerra.

Pool 4: Corona del Mar, Edison, Foothill, Dana Hills

Today’s schedule

(at Fountain Valley)

3 p.m.: Los Alamitos vs. Mission Viejo; Fountain Valley vs. Laguna Beach.

4 p.m.: Huntington Beach vs. Esperanza; San Clemente vs. JSerra.

5 p.m.: Mission Viejo vs. Esperanza; Laguna Beach vs. JSerra.

6 p.m.: Los Alamitos vs. Huntington Beach; Fountain Valley vs. San Clemente.

(at Edison High)

3 p.m.: Newport Harbor vs. Woodbridge; Corona del Mar vs. Foothill.

4 p.m.: Mater Dei vs. Tesoro; Edison vs. Dana Hills.

5 p.m.: Woodbridge vs. Tesoro; Foothills vs. Dana Hills.

6 p.m.: Newport Harbor vs. Mater Dei; Corona del Mar vs. Edison.

Saturday’s schedule

(at Fountain Valley)

9 a.m.: Huntington Beach vs. Mission Viejo; San Clemente vs. Laguna Beach.

10 a.m.: Los Alamitos vs. Esperanza; Fountain Valley vs. JSerra.

(at Edison High)

9 a.m.: Mater Dei vs. Woodbridge; Edison vs. Foothill.

10 a.m.: Newport Harbor vs. Tesoro; Corona del Mar vs. Dana Hills.

Monday’s schedule

(at Edison High)

7 p.m.: Gold Division final

Division II pools

Pool 1: St. John Bosco, Coronado, Claremont, Sage Hill.

Pool 2: Torrey Pines, Arcadia, Calvary Chapel, Estancia.

Pool 3: University (Irvine), Francis Parker, Costa Mesa, Millikan

Pool 4: Servite, Lakewood, Marina, Villa Park

Today’s schedule

(at Newport Harbor High)

3 p.m.: St. John Bosco vs. Claremont; Torrey Pines vs. Calvary Chapel; University vs. Costa Mesa; Servite vs. Marina.

4 p.m.: Coronado vs. Sage Hill; Arcadia vs. Estancia; Francis Parker vs. Millikan; Lakewood vs. Villa Park.

5 p.m.: Claremont vs. Sage Hill; Calvary Chapel vs. Estancia; Costa Mesa vs. Millikan; Marina vs. Villa Park.

6 p.m.: St. John Bosco vs. Coronado; Torrey Pines vs. Arcadia; University vs. Francis Parker; Servite vs. Lakewood.

Saturday’s schedule

9 a.m.: Coronado vs. Claremont; Arcadia vs. Calvary Chapel; Francis Parker vs. Costa Mesa; Lakewood vs. Marina.

10 a.m.: St. John Bosco vs. Sage Hill; Torrey Pines vs. Estancia; University vs. Millikan; Servite vs. Villa Park.