The nation's largest high school volleyball tournament lands in Wesley Chapel on Friday. Some 128 teams will compete at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus for two days of competition.

The Florida GEM High School Tournament runs Friday, Sept. 18, through Saturday, Sept. 19, featuring 80 varsity and 48 junior varsity squads across eight divisions. Teams from six states will compete at the Sports Coast Way facility, according to Florida's Sports Coast. The tournament's website says prepvolleyball.com ranked the event among the nation's top five high school volleyball tournaments.

Wesley Chapel, Cypress Creek Both Draw Tough Pools

Two Wesley Chapel-area programs have marquee roles. Wesley Chapel High opens against Wharton at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the Varsity American Division. That pool also includes Lakeland and Class 3A power North Bay Haven, the Tampa Bay Beacons reported.

Cypress Creek enters undefeated. The Coyotes could face Wharton in bracket play if both advance from their pools, per the Beacons.

Coyotes Return Key Hitters, Setters From Last Season

Cypress Creek head coach Amy Strawser set the tone for the season in an Aug. 24 preseason interview with the Beacons. "The girls are great, and they are willing to grow and learn," she said. The Coyotes return junior outside hitter Addison Wilkes, who posted an area-best 312 kills last season, ranking ninth in Class 5A. Seniors Ava Hofferberth, who had 512 assists last year, and Mia Devane run the offense at setter.

New Rule Lets Coyotes Deploy Two Liberos

The Coyotes are testing a new defensive look. A rule change now allows high schools to use two liberos, mirroring the club and college system. Cypress Creek has deployed Elena Cupitra and Chloe Gomez in those roles. Charlotte Spinner, a libero last season, moved to a back-row defensive role. In the season opener against Kirkland Ranch, Spinner served for 25 straight points in the second set after rattling off 15 consecutive in the first.

Wildcats Enter Rebuilding Year Under Collison

Wesley Chapel head coach Brittany Collison told the Beacons on Aug. 24 that the Wildcats are in transition. "It's kind of a rebuilding year in general," she said. The Wildcats went 8-17 last season and now compete in District 5A-9, which includes Cypress Creek, Sunlake, East Lake, Mitchell and Wharton. Seniors Gabriella Reyes and 5-foot-11 Noel Newsome lead the roster, with sophomore Carly Danielson also expected to contribute.

Award-Winning Venue Hosts Two Days of Play

The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus opened in August 2020 and features two 35,500-square-foot courts with 16 volleyball nets. It won the Florida Sports Foundation's Small Market Venue of the Year award in 2021.

Pool play begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, with bracket play continuing Saturday, Sept. 19.