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Damian Calhoun. Sports Newsroom Assistant.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The top-ranked Los Alamitos girls volleyball team opened the season by winning the Gahr Tournament.

Saturday, the Griffins finished second at the Durango Fall Classic.

However, there isn’t any time for the Griffins to rest on their laurels.

Tuesday, Los Alamitos visits traditional powerhouse Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach in a nonleague match and then sets its sights on defending its title at the Dave Mohs Orange County Championships, starting Friday.

“This is good preparation for the playoffs,” Los Alamitos coach Dave Huber said. “In the playoffs, you play a high-intensity match, you get one day off and then you do it again. We have to get used to doing it.”

Los Alamitos lost to Assumption of Kentucky in the finals Saturday. Jaylen Villanueva, Alijah Gunsaulus and Crissy Jones earned all-tournament honors.

The second-place finish equals the best finish for the Griffins. Los Alamitos placed second in 2004.

“We want to get better every weekend,” Huber said. “Our goal is to be better at the end of this tournament than we were at the end of Vegas.”

In other tournament action from last week, Mission Viejo and Tesoro advanced to the semifinals of the Aloha Cougar Classic at Capistrano Valley High. Santa Margarita finished eighth at the Archbishop Mitty Tournament.

A LOOK AHEAD

This week’s schedule is relatively light.

The big event begins Friday with this year’s Dave Mohs O.C. Championships. Edison coach Trent Jackson said pools should be released Wednesday.

Tuesday, top-ranked Los Alamitos heads to Mira Costa. Will there be a letdown for the Griffins coming off of their success at Durango?

Also, No. 8 Huntington Beach visits No. 9 San Clemente. The Tritons have only played one match this season, losing to Torrey Pines. Orange Lutheran visits Redondo Union, the third-ranked team in Division 1-AA. No. 5 Santa Margarita hosts Dana Hills.

Wednesday, No. 7 Laguna Beach visits Torrey Pines. 

Thursday, the Oilers will host Mission Viejo. The Diablos received votes in this week’s county top 10 after their semifinal run at the Aloha Cougar Classic.

UPDATE ON STRICKLAND

Edison’s Cassie Strickland (knee) didn’t play in Saturday’s action at Durango. Coach Trent Jackson said Monday that she was getting treatment and walking normal. He hopes to have her in action Friday at Dave Mohs, or certainly by the start of Sunset League action.

COUNTY TOP 10

Here is how I voted in this week’s top 10: 1. Los Alamitos; 2. Corona del Mar; 3. Newport Harbor; 4. Edison; 5. Mater Dei; 6. Santa Margarita; 7. Huntington Beach; 8. Laguna Beach; 9. San Clemente; 10. Tesoro.