Ward keeps hand in prep volleyball

Although Stacey Ward is no longer volleyball coach at Ferris, she is remaining close to the sport.

Ward has taken on the task of coordinator for this weekend’s 15th annual Crossover Classic tournament.

“They talked me into doing it last spring,” Ward said.

She said it coincides nicely as part of her practicum while earning a master’s from Gonzaga University in sports administration.

Already the tournament has taxed Ward’s administrative skills, with teams dropping out and others – that come annually and were expected to be included – failing to respond on time.

But the tournament is 64 teams strong with 16-team brackets at four sites.

Every classification is well- represented with state-ranked teams, from Class B second-ranked Colfax to top-ranked 4A Mead. The Panthers are among five ranked 4A Washington teams in the field. Lewis and Clark, Kamiakin, Skyview and Kentlake are the others.

East Valley, No. 1, and Auburn Mountainview are ranked in 3A. Also in the field is top-ranked 2A Grandview and four 1A-ranked teams, including No. 1 King’s and No. 4 Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls), which are in the same pool, Freeman and Cedar Park Christian. Davenport joins Colfax as ranked B teams. Idaho Inland Empire League teams Coeur d’Alene, Lake City, Post Falls and Sandpoint are also entered.

The tourney has moved back downtown to showcase new gymnasiums at Ferris, Rogers and Shadle Park. Four-team pool play begins with a handful of matches Friday night and returns in earnest at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Tournament play follows at 1 p.m., based on pool records, with title matches in each scheduled for 6:30. The Platinum tourney (to determine overall champion among all first-place finishers) is at Rogers, Gold (for seconds) at Shadle, Silver (for thirds) at LC, and Bronze (for fourths) at Ferris.

On the run

Cross country teams tend to pick and choose what invitational meets they’ll attend each year, but this year’s “must-run” meet for several Greater Spokane League schools is Saturday’s Richland Invitational.

One of the oldest invitationals in the state, the 40th annual race is also on the course of this year’s 4A and 3A regional races Nov. 1. More than half the GSL’s teams are entered. Smaller-school varsity teams combine with large-school junior varsity boys and girls for races at 12:55 and 1:20 p.m. respectively. Big-school varsity boys and girls races follow at 1:55 and 2:20.

Also Saturday at 10 a.m., Gonzaga Prep is host to the Bullpup Invitational at Finch Arboretum.

GSL game of the week

Tonight’s football game between Mt. Spokane and LC at 6:30 at Albi Stadium is significant. If Mt. Spokane wins, it gets them even with fellow 3A East Valley against common 4A opponents. LC can’t afford another loss if it is to return to the 4A postseason.

Competition of note

When Almira/Coulee-Hartline (4-1) travels to Tri-Cities Prep at 7 p.m. Friday, it will be a good comparison game between Northeast 1B and Southeast 1B football leagues. Tri-Cities Prep (5-0) is a passing juggernaut. ACH ran afoul of undefeated Cusick’s defense last week in the NE1B.

•Deer Park travels to West Valley in a game between teams whose only football losses have been to opportunistic Clarkston.

•Northeast A League’s Lakeside continues its ambitious non-league schedule that belies their 3-2 overall record. The Eagles (1-0 in league) host La Grande (Ore.) this week after having already played larger schools Quincy (win), West Valley (loss), Medical Lake (win) and Moscow (loss).

•In girls soccer, Cheney is at Pullman today as both teams are chasing Great Northern leader West Valley. GSL co-leader LC travels to G-Prep, one point behind, in a key positional match Friday.