Prep notebook: Linda Sheridan Volleyball Classic trimmed to 61 teams

It’s always an imposing task to organize the Linda Sheridan Volleyball Classic.

This year provided extra obstacles for tournament organizer Stacey Ward, the athletic director at Ferris.

Because of team cancellations, the typical 64-team bracket has been cut to 61.

“It has been a rather challenging year in terms of teams dropping out for various reasons,” Ward said.

One team even had to cancel because its coach had a heart attack last weekend, Ward said.

Still, all 10 Greater Spokane League teams and teams ranked in every Washington classification will compete at the tournament, which starts with a few matches Friday night and caps with championship play at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Shadle Park.

Matches will also take place at Lewis and Clark, Ferris and Rogers.

Auburn Riverside returns to defend its title as does Battle Ground, last year’s runner-up team. Both are in pool play at Rogers.

Battle Ground, University, Jackson and West Valley (Yakima) are tourney teams ranked among the top 10 in the 4A classification. Auburn Riverside is ranked among 3A teams.

Chris Derrick

Football coverage

SWX will televise a single Greater Spokane League football matchup Thursday night at Albi Stadium when Central Valley takes on Mead in a 4A league game. Kickoff is at 7:15.

Sam Adams and Spokane Shock head coach Adam Shackleford will call the game.

In a doubleheader of GSL crossover games Friday at Albi, Lewis and Clark (1-3) faces North Central (1-3) at 5 followed by Mt. Spokane (3-1) going against Ferris (1-3) at 7:30.

In outside games, Gonzaga Prep (4-0) makes its home debut against Shadle Park (1-3) and Rogers (2-2) visits University (4-0). Both games are at 7.

In a showdown that could decide the Northeast 2B title, Northwest Christian (3-1, 3-0) visits No. 1-ranked Lind-Ritzville/Sprague (4-0, 3-0) at 7.