PEARLAND — Pearland volleyball coach John Turner spends 11 months a year looking for the answer to one important question: How do you take the nation's largest and most competitive high school tournament and make it even better?

Turner's most recent solution is to expand the field and increase the event's charitable contribution beyond last year's record amount.

This year's tournament will feature 86 teams from all corners of the state. From the Valley to Amarillo and from El Paso to the Golden Triangle, potential state contenders from 4A, 5A and 6A will make their way to Pearland for the three-day event beginning Aug. 14.

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SETTER OF THE YEAR - Pearland senior Chelsey Watts worked hard every day to become the district’s top setter for 2013. She led the team in assists and played unselfishly to do whatever it took to make this team successful.

"Chelsey will be the captain for the 2014 team in which I look forward to seeing her be the floor general that takes this program to the next level and makes it to state in 2014," Pearland head coach John Turner said. (Photo by Rick Skeen)

"We have all the best teams from last year and added even more," Turner said. "This will be the best and most representative tournament yet."

Heading up the list are the returning state champions The Woodlands (5A), Amarillo (4A) and Decatur (3A).

Also coming off of state tournament appearances are Clear Falls, Southlake Carroll and San Antonio Churchill in 5A as well as Friendswood (4A) and College Station (3A).

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ONE OF PEARLAND'S BEST - "Brooke (Botkin) has the potential to become one of the best players to play at Pearland since I have coached at PHS," Pearland head coach John Turner said.

"She is being highly recruited by major Division I schools from across the country. She is a multi-talented player being able to play any position on the court if needed."

Botkin recorded 430 kills, 52 blocks, 24 aces, and 271 digs last season as a freshman. (Photo by Rick Skeen)

Pool play on Thursday will seed teams for bracket play the last two days. Saturday's championship and third place matches will be broadcast live on Comcast Sports.

Turner is teaming with the J.J. Watt Foundation for this year's charity contribution.

"The J.J. Watt Foundation does a great job helping kids get involved in athletics," Turner said. "We've been doing a lot with him with our middle schools in Pearland."

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TEAM LEADER - Friendswood junior Jessica Ruffing was an All-District first-team pick last year as a sophomore and she looks to be one of the team leaders for the Lady Mustangs for the upcoming 2014 season.

Friendswood will be competing in a new class and district, but they have always been one of the top teams in state regardless of what class they compete against. (Photo by Rick Skeen)

Two features for this year's tournament are a T-shirt pre-sale and a silent auction of memorabilla on Thursday.

Turner has Adidas and Gatorade lined up as title sponsors for 2014 along with Jason's Deli and Fox Sports.

"It's going to be a great tournament," Turner said. "We're going to have the best teams in the state here for three days. There is going to be a lot of great volleyball."

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J. J. Watt