By Greg Ford
Sports Editor
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SACHSE — Members of the Sachse, Wylie and Wylie East volleyball teams will get a series of good early-season tests this weekend, as each will take part in the 28-team Garland ISD Tournament at Sachse and Rowlett High Schools.

“We are really excited to go to the Garland Tournament.  I am looking forward to seeing the competitiveness that our kids have this year,” said Wylie East head coach Lisa Curry.  “They are great group of kids that work together as a team and that is going to help us be successful this year.  I am also looking forward to seeing our defense and how we match up with other teams.  I expect us to do well in this tournament.”

The annual affair is one of Texas’ top tip offs to the volleyball season, as it is one of many preseason tournaments around the state.

Action begins Friday with divisional play, with the first- and second-place teams from each division (14 total) advancing to the championship bracket, with play beginning late Friday and then continuing Saturday, Aug. 11 at Sachse. The third-and fourth-place teams will be relegated to the challenger bracket, with most of those matches, including all of Saturday’s, taking place at Rowlett.

Sachse is scheduled to open things at 9 a.m. Friday against Mesquite in Division 1 competition on the Lady Mustangs’ home court, with later matches being against RL Turner (noon) and Emory Rains (2 p.m.).

Wylie also will open Division 2 competition at 9 a.m. Friday at Sachse, with their opening opponent being Garland. They’re scheduled to face McKinney North at noon that day and finish off divisional play at 3 p.m. against Carthage.

The Lady Raiders will be part of Division 7, and will open play at 11 a.m. Friday against Hallsville at Sachse, which will be followed by matches against Naaman Forest (1 p.m.) and then Carrollton Ranchview.

Besides providing the chance for multiple early-season matches, the GISD Tournament also will allow coaches to scout North Texas competition. That’ll be particularly true for Sachse, as all of the remaining GISD teams — together with Sachse they make up District 10-6A — also will participate in the tournament. They are Garland, North Garland, South Garland, Naaman Forest, Lakeview Centennial and Rowlett.

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