A strong lineup of 32 volleyball teams from across the state and four classifications will converge on Tyler this weekend for the 2014 Tyler Invitational.

Action begins Thursday at Robert E. Lee and John Tyler for pools A-D. Pools E-H play Friday before bracket play takes place Saturday.

Co-host John Tyler is among the first teams to play, taking on Troup at 12:30 p.m. at the Lions Den. Other Pool C foes for the Lady Lions (6-10) include North Lamar (4:15 p.m.) and Alba-Golden (5:30 p.m.).

Robert E. Lee won’t start until Friday when the Lady Raiders (7-4) take on Quitman, Eustace and New Boston. Lee won the Gold Bracket title last year.

Whitehouse (7-6) will compete in Pool A, which will be played at Lee’s Varsity Gym and includes Pleasant Grove, Henderson and Marshall.

Pool B will be contested Thursday at Lee’s K Gym between Pine Tree, Lindale, Gladewater and Rains. Lindale won the consolation in the Championship Bracket in 2013.

The other group to play Thursday will be Pool D at JT’s JV gym. Longview, Mabank, Lufkin and Arp are in that group.

Defending champion Carthage is not in this year’s tournament, although runner-up Saginaw is. The Rough Riders headline Pool F, which plays Friday at Lee’s K Gym and includes Nacogdoches, Chapel Hill and Elkhart.

Pool G sees the return of former John Tyler coach Stephanie March-Smith, now at Beaumont Ozen. The Lady Panthers will contend with White Oak, Van and Teague on Friday at the Lions Den.

Finally, Pool H sees Hallsville, West Hardin, New Diana and Nacogdoches Central Heights play at JT’s JV Gym.

Bracket play begins at 8 a.m. Saturday with four brackets: Championship, Gold, Silver and Bronze, corresponding to the standings after pool play. The finals of each bracket will be at 7 p.m.

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2014 Tyler Invitational

Pool Play

Pools A-D play Thursday, E-H on Friday. Games at Robert E. Lee and John Tyler.

Pool A (Thursday at Lee’s Varsity Gym) — 1, Pleasant Grove; 2, Whitehouse; 3, Henderson; 4, Marshall.

Pool B (Thursday at Lee’s K Gym) — 1, Pine Tree; 2, Lindale; 3, Gladewater; 4, Rains.

Pool C (Thursday at JT’s Lions Den) — 1, John Tyler; 2, Alba-Golden; 3, North Lamar; 4, Troup.

Pool D (Thursday at JT’s JV Gym) — 1, Longview; 2, Mabank; 3, Lufkin; 4, Arp.

Pool E (Friday at Lee’s Varsity Gym) — 1, Robert E. Lee; 2, Quitman; 3, Eustace; 4, New Boston.

Pool F (Friday at Lee’s K Gym) — 1, Saginaw; 2, Nacogdoches; 3, Chapel Hill; 4, Elkhart.

Pool G (Friday at JT’s Lions Den) — 1, White Oak; 2, Beaumont Ozen; 3, Van; 4, Teague.

Pool H (Friday at JT’s JV Gym) — 1, Hallsville; 2, West Hardin; 3, New Diana; 4, Nacogdoches Central Heights.

Pool Play Schedule

12:30 p.m. — Team 1 vs. Team 4

1:45 p.m. — Team 2 vs. Team 3

3 p.m. — Team 2 vs. Team 4

4:15 p.m. — Team 1 vs. Team 3

5:30 p.m. — Team 1 vs. Team 2

6:45 p.m. — Team 4 vs. Team 3

Bracket Play Schedule

Four brackets: Championship, Gold, Silver, Bronze

Game 1: Pool D vs. Pool F, 8 a.m.

Game 2: Pool C vs. Pool E, 9 a.m.

Game 3: Pool B vs. Pool H, 10 a.m.

Game 4: Pool A vs. Pool G, 11 a.m.

Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1 p.m.

Game 6: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 2 p.m.

Game 7: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 3 p.m.

Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4 p.m.

Game 9 (Consolation): Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 5 p.m.

Game 10 (Third-Place): Loser Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8, 6 p.m.

Game 11 (Championship): Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8, 7 p.m.