Lawrence High volleyball coach Jo Huntsinger can’t understand why there always is strong competition at the annual Wells Invitational.

It’s not that the tournament is run poorly. It just can be too tough for anyone’s good.

“It’s a very special tournament,” Huntsinger said. “I have a ton of respect for all the teams that play in it. A lot of teams drop out of this tournament because the competition’s so tough.”

Pool play will begin at 10 this morning in both LHS gyms.

Among the teams on hand will be Roeland Park Miege, the defending Class 5A state champion, and Shawnee Heights and Wichita Carroll, two teams that advanced deep into last year’s 5A state tournament.

All three of those teams will play in the Black Pool with the Lions, and only two will advance to the championship playoffs at 2 p.m.

After dropping matches to Miege and Olathe East in a home quad Thursday, LHS grabbed a 2-0 victory over Free State in an emotional match at the LHS gym.

“That was a great quad to have before this tournament,” Huntsinger said. “We’re prepared.”

The meet is named for former LHS coach Joan Wells, one of Kansas’ all-time great volleyball coaches. In 27 years as the Lions’ head coach from 1971 to 1997, Wells guided the Lions to 26 straight trips to the state tournament. LHS won 15 state titles under Wells.

The Red Pool of today’s tourney will consist of Park Hill (Mo.) South, Maize, Shawnee Mission Northwest and Blue Valley Northwest. Lawrence will play Wichita Carroll at 10 a.m., Miege at 11 a.m., and Shawnee Heights at noon.

If the Lions aren’t among the top two teams in the Black Pool, they still will play in a consolation bracket at 2 p.m.