Coronado looks to break Durango Fall Classic girls volleyball jinx

A quick spin through the archived history of the Durango Fall Classic reveals some grim news for local girls volleyball teams.

Since the host Trailblazers took fifth in 2003, no team from Southern Nevada has finished in the top 16 of the prestigious event.

That could change this year if the seeds holds true.

Coronado, the two-time defending Division I state champion, is seeded first in its pool and will have the luxury of playing at its home gym when the 21st annual tournament opens Friday at four valley schools.

"Getting a No. 1 seed obviously puts us in a good position, but I think in this tournament, the competition is so high that the difference between a one, two or three seed probably isn't too much," Coronado coach Matt Johnson said. "I think we've earned that respect. I think we're better than we were last year, but we have go out on the court and prove that."

The Cougars (4-0) open pool play against second-seeded Newport Harbor (Calif.) at 1 p.m. Friday, then take on No. 3 seed Notre Dame Belmont (Calif.) before concluding against Faith Lutheran.

Coronado was second in its pool last year, falling to eventual fifth-place finisher Kamehameha (Hawaii) in three sets, and went on to tie for 23rd overall.

"Coronado being a No. 1 seed is a pretty big deal," said tournament director Bob Kelly, who does not do the seeding. "They've been consistent over the last two or three years, with good talent and good training. It's something they've earned."

The 64-team Durango Fall Classic is considered one of the nation's top tournaments and has nine local teams in the field. Defending champion Assumption (Ky.), No. 11 in PrepVolleyball.com's preseason Top 100, is entered, along with last year's runner-up, Archbishop Mitty (Calif).

Pool play begins at 1 p.m. Friday with matches taking place at Coronado, Durango, Green Valley and Palo Verde. The championship bracket final is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Durango.

"It's always really exciting, pretty intense the second day," Kelly said. "Generally, it's a tournament that coaches love because their teams really grow and develop as a team and they can tell 'Oh, this is what's working, and this is what we need to work on.' It's a good evaluation for them.

"Wherever you are, whatever gym you're at, you're going to see some highly competitive, aggressive volleyball."

* FOUR ENTER COACHES HALL OF FAME — Darwin Rost and Kirk Hafen were inducted into the Clark County High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame as part of its four-member class.

Rost compiled a record of 154-50 in 19 seasons at Palo Verde and led the Panthers to the 2004 Class 4A state title. Rost, who resigned as the Panthers' coach in February, previously coached Durango and Eldorado.

Hafen guided Virgin Valley to two state titles (Class 3A in 2006 and 2A in 1994) and was 166-66 before stepping down in 2011. He spent 26 years on the Bulldogs' staff, including the past 21 as head coach.

Also inducted were Del Sol's Preston Goroff, who went 59-42 in 10 seasons and led the Dragons to the 2009 Sunrise Region title, along with historical figure Luke Werner of Clark (posthumously).

* RECENT COMMITMENTS — Spring Valley junior Nick Rupp to UNLV for baseball. ... Centennial junior Bailey Anderson to Arizona State for women's beach volleyball.

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ.