Many of the top volleyball teams from the Valley and other parts of the state across several conferences are among the 36 teams in the field for the 28th annual Westwood Tournament of Champions Invitational Friday (Sept. 13) and Saturday (Sept. 14).

Top teams from last year competing with high finishes in their respective state tournaments are: 5A champ Millennium, 3A champ Northwest Christian, 6A runner-up Corona del Sol, 5A runner-up Sunnyslope, 6A semfiinalists Perry and Hamilton, 5A semifinalis Horizon and 4 semifinalist Marcos de Niza.

The tournament will be played at four sites with four, nine team pools. Sites are Westwood, Highland, Mesquite and Skyline. Back to defend its title is Hamilton, who will compete in in pool play at Westwood along with Sunnyslope, St. Mary's (Stockton, CA), Desert Ridge, Deer Valley, Westwood, Boulder Creek, Prescott and Cibola.

Competing at Highland High are Perry, Horizon, Mesa, Liberty, Highland, Mountain Ridge, Ironwood, Casteel and Saguaro. The Mesquite pool consists of Millennium, Mountain Pointe, Northwest Christian, Centennial, Chandler, Notre Dame Prep, Gilbert, Red Mountain and Dobson. Skyline High plays host to Corona del Sol, Basha, Pinnacle, Skyline, Marcos de Niza, Shadow Ridge, Mesa Mtn. View, Desert Mountain and American Leadership- Queen Creek.

Matches begin at 11 a.m. on Friday at all sites and continue through the late afternoon. Every school will play four matches on Friday. Play picks up on Saturday with more pool play starting at 9 a.m. and continuing until approximately 1 p.m.

Single-elimination bracket play follows, commencing at approximately 2 p.m. with first-, second- and third-place teams competing at Westwood in the Gold Division, fourth-and fifth-place teams competing at Highland, sixth- and seventh-place teams competing at Mesquite and eighth-and ninth-place teams competing at Skyline.