Three teams ranked in the top-10 of the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll are entered in this weekend’s Santa Barbara High’s Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions.
The 16-team tournament starts today at Santa Barbara’s J.R. Richards Gym at 11 a.m. The teams will play best-of-five matches. The semifinals are Saturday at 10:45 a.m. and the final at 6:15 p.m.
Dos Pueblos’ Sovine Gym will host consolation-round matches on both days.
Newport Harbor returns to defend its title. The Sailors (24-1) are ranked third in the USA Today/AVCA Super 25 National Poll. The 2023 CIF-SS Division 1 champions are led by UC Santa Barbara signee Riggs Guy. They open against Santa Ynez at 11 a.m.
The No. 2 seed is Mira Costa, a former TOC champion, which is ranked sixth in the national poll. The Mustangs (24-3), led by Victor Loiola, play West Ranch in the first round at 4:15 p.m.
The third nationally ranked team in the field is Marist of Chicago (9-0). Last year, the program went 35-4. Marist takes on Quartz Hill at 2:30 p.m.
Also coming from out of state is Pleasant Grove of Utah. The governing body of high school athletics in Utah sanctioned boys volleyball as an official sport this season Pleasant Grove plays Mira Costa’s No. 2 team at 4:15 p.m.
Host Santa Barbara opens play against Thousand Oaks at 12:45 p.m.
The other first-round matches are: Notre Dame vs. Burroughs-Burbank, 11 a.m. Sanger vs. Camarillo, 12:45 p.m. Del Norte vs. Downey, 4:15