Two 2014 CIF champions lead the 31-team field at the 40th annual Dos Pueblos Invitational boys volleyball tournament on Saturday at UCSB’s Events Center.
The all-day event — one of the longest running boys volleyball tournaments in the country — kicks off at 8 a.m. with pool-play matches. The playoffs are scheduled to begin at around 3 p.m., and the championship match is expected at around 6 p.m.
South Pasadena and Saddleback Valley Christian are the returning CIF champions. Saddleback Valley Christian won the Division 5 title last year. The Warriors moved up to Division 4 and are currently the top-ranked team in the division. South Pasadena is ranked third in the early-season Division 2 poll after winning the Division 3 title last season.
Laguna Beach, a Division 2 finalist a year ago, comes into the tournament as the No. 2 team in the division’s latest poll.
Other CIF-ranked teams in the tourney include St. Margaret’s (No. 2 in Division 4), Santa Ynez (6th in Division 4), Rio Mesa (8th in Division 4) and Royal (10th in Division 2). Arroyo Grande is listed among others in Division 3. Another team that could contend for the title is perennial L.A. City Section power Palisades Charter.
Host Dos Pueblos and San Marcos are the local schools in the tournament. Other county schools entered are Righetti and Santa Maria.
