Prep notebook: Crossover brings in top teams

The 15th Crossover Classic volleyball tournament is shaping up to be the best.

Billed as the largest of its kind on the West Coast with 64 teams, the tourney begins Friday and concludes Saturday evening at four sites – Ferris, Rogers, Lewis and Clark and Shadle Park.

The 64 teams are divided into 16 four-team pools. The winners of each pool advance to Ferris, where the top 16 places will be decided. The title match is scheduled for 6:30.

Nine teams ranked in the Seattle Times’ 4A and 3A polls are in the tourney along with the 10 Greater Spokane League teams and several North Idaho teams. Richland, which is ranked No. 1 in 4A, Mead, which is second, and Mt. Spokane, ranked first in 3A, are among the favorites.

Mt. Spokane will be without its top outside hitter, junior Annie Arnzen. She will be attending a wedding in San Diego.

Mead, the defending champ, has won two of the last three titles and five overall.

Co-GSL football leaders Ferris and Mt. Spokane, both 5-0, meet Friday night in the second game of a doubleheader at Albi Stadium. Kickoff is at 8.

Central Valley has played and lost to both teams, so CV coach Rick Giampietri has a good idea of what might take place.

“Both teams have big-play capabilities,” Giampietri said. “The key will be Ferris’ defense. Their team speed really surprised us.”

Giampietri’s Bears (3-2) have a big game, too. They entertain Gonzaga Prep (4-1), which appears to be getting healthy at the right time. Quarterback Shane Schmidlkofer returned last week.

The Bears must find a way to do something no team has done this year – contain Bullpups running back Bishop Sankey.

“You know he’s going to break maybe two for touchdowns,” Giampietri said. “The key is not letting him break three or four.”

• In a 5A Inland Empire League game Friday, Lake City (3-2, 1-0) goes to Lewiston (4-0, 0-0).