The first week of girls volleyball was business as usual for four of the top programs in Division I. Defending champ Xavier, Hamilton, Gilbert and Desert Vista all opened winning a pair of matches. At least two of the four will greet defeat this week as regular-season play kicks into high gear as does the invitational portion of the schedule.

Xavier (2-0) took down Centennial and Horizon last week. Junior Khalia Lanier averaged 12 kills per match to begin her third varsity season. Hamilton ((2-0) likewise with Mountain Ridge and Dobson. Gilbert (2-0) got past Basha and Red Mountain and Desert Vista (2-0) prevailed over Mesa High and Mountain Ridge .None of the four lost a set.

Gilbert hosts Horizon on Tuesday and Hamilton on Thursday with a Wednesday match sandwiched at Westwood. Xavier has the toughest slare this seek with three matches -- hosting Desert Ridge (2-0) on Tuesday and traveling to Highland (2-0) and Desert Vista Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Hamilton has road matches Wednesday (Mountain Pointe) and Thursday (Gilbert). Desert Vista, along with playing Xavier, hosts Chaparral on Tuesday.

A 16-team invitational is on tap Friday and Saturday at Chandler High, the annual House of  Payne Tournament. Teams entered are Boulder Creek (0-1), Campo Verde (0-1), Chandler (2-0), Corona del Sol (1-0), Desert Ridge (2-0), Dobson (0-1), Gilbert, Highland, Marana Mountain View (0-1), McClintock (0-2), Mesa (0-2), Perry (3-0), Red Mountain (0-2), Saguaro (2-0), Valley Christian (1-1) and Youngker (2-0).

Defending Division II champ Sunnyslope plays its first match of 2014 Tuesday at D-I Corona del Sol. Another D-II school got off to a hot start, Notre Dame Prep. The Lady Saints are 7-0 and won all five matches in their Jim Rantanen Memorial Tournament to claim the title. D-II semifinalist Ironwood Ridge is 2-0 after knocking off Cienega and Tucson High.

Last year's D-III champ Flagstaff won its first two matches, including a five-set battle with fellow title contender Tuba City. Courtney Leffel came up with 19 kills in the victory over Tuba City that saw Flagstaff rally from two sets down on the road. D-IV champ Northwest Christian dropped its opener to Horizon Honors. D-V champ St. David won three power-ranking matches and posted a 5-1 mark at the Morenci Invitational over the weekend. Its only loss was to Morenci, who it beat earlier in pool play.

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