Even before the start of the regular season, much of the talk surrounding District 10 boys volleyball was how exciting and competitive the end-of-the-season tournament was going to be.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the time has arrived.

The 2008 District 10 Boys Volleyball Tournament — expected by coaches, players and volleyball enthusiasts to be one of the most competitive ever — starts today at Meadville High School.

Competition begins at 5:30 p.m. at the House of Thrills with the final match expected to start around 8:30 p.m.

“It’s going to be anyone’s tournament,” Meadville coach Doug Nelson said.

His colleagues agree.

“It’s going to be a great tournament,” said Saegertown coach Justin Johnson, whose team enters as the defending champions. “Anything can happen. You have to take it one game at a time and look no further.”

This year’s District 10 Tournament includes four of the state’s top ranked teams. Meadville, which starts play against Cochranton in the opening round at 5:30 p.m., is ranked first in the state in Class AA by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association.

Cambridge Springs is ranked second; Maplewood is fourth; and Saegertown is fifth.

“It is definitely going to be a tough tournament,” Spa coach Rick Welker said. “There will be a lot of nailbiters.”

The District 10 Tournament is a best-of-three double-elimination format. The loser’s of the first-round matchups between Meadville and Cochranton, Cambridge Springs and Conneaut Valley, Saegertown and Farrell, and Maplewood and Rocky Grove will meet in the loser’s bracket at 7:30 p.m. tonight.

The winners will meet at 8:30 p.m.

Play resumes Thursday with loser’s bracket action at 6 p.m. The winner’s bracket final is at 7 p.m. with the loser’s bracket semifinal — perhaps the biggest match of the tournament aside from the final, of course — to be played as a single court feature at 8 p.m. In the loser’s bracket final. Two of the top two teams in the state could very well be playing for their survival in that round.

“I’ve said it before,” Maplewood coach Sheila Bancroft said. “This tournament will probably be better than the state tournament.”

And Saegertown, as the defending champion, is feeling no more pressure than anyone else.