Laguna Open Gets an Early Start : Sixteen Men’s Volleyball Teams Will Try to Qualify Today

Beach volleyball fans who can’t wait for the start of the $70,000 Laguna Open beach volleyball tournament won’t have to wait any longer.

The Open, the oldest and one of the most prestigious beach volleyball tournaments in the country, has expanded its men’s division and will have pool play today at Capistrano Beach from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To accommodate the many requests to play in the 35th men’s open, officials expanded the men’s invitational division from 16 to 20 two-player teams, said tournament spokeswoman Mary Jo Wheeler.

The four additional entries will come from a pool of 16 teams that will play today’s qualifying round of single-elimination pool play.

The four winners advance to first-round action Saturday.

The 17-year-old women’s open features 16 two-player teams competing for an $11,000 first prize, and a total purse of $20,000. First-round action begins Saturday at 9 a.m.

The men’s invitational event begins first-round play at noon. The men will compete for $50,000 in prize money, which includes a first place award of $27,500.

The tournament also features an eight-team exhibition legends competition featuring some of the top senior players. Pool competition begins at 9 a.m. Sunday with final play in all divisions scheduled Monday afternoon.

The Laguna Open will be held at Main Beach. There will be free parking off Laguna Canyon Road just west of El Toro Road. There will be shuttles from the parking lot to the courts every 20 minutes.