A smattering of non-football fall sports began last week and those kick into high gear this week with regular season play and the onset of the invitational season in southern Arizona and the East Valley.

Volleyball invites take place Friday Aug. 31 and Saturday Sept. 1 in Chandler, Tucson and Thatcher.

Chandler High plays host to the 16-team House of Payne Invitational with matches at Chandler High's main and auxilary gyms. Play begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. on Saturday with the finals set for approximately late afternoon on Saturday. Schools competing are: Basha, Betty Fairfax, Boulder Creek , Campo Verde, Chandler, Desert Ridge, Liberty, Marcos de Niza, McClintock, Mesa High, Marana Mountain View, Perry , Red Mountain, Thunderbird, Valley Christian and Valley Vista.

Palo Verde High School is the host for the Tucson Unified School District Invitational. The tournament also runs Friday Aug. 31 and Saturday September 1. Play begins Friday at noon and Saturday at 8 a.m. The 20-team field is comprised of Amphitheater, Buena, Canyon Del Oro, Catalina Foothills, Catalina, Cholla, Cienega, Desert View, Douglas, Flowing Wells, Marana, Palo Verde, Pueblo, Rincon, Rio Rico, Sabino, Sahuaro, Santa Rita, Sunnyside  and Tucson High.

Thatcher High entertains 10 schools for its tournament on Saturday Sept. 1. Competing schools in the Thatcher Invitational are Benson, Bisbee, Desert Christian, Duncan, Globe, Morenci, Pima, San Carlos, St. David and Thatcher.

Cross Country is light on the invitational side, but does include Yuma hosting the Prison Break Invitational on Saturday Sept. 1 featuring boys and girls squads from Cibola, Gila Ridge, Kofa, Yuma Catholic and Lake Havasu.