Soquel-Carmel volleyball

 As far as season openers go, this match gets your attention as the defending Central Coast Section Division III champion Knights will visit Carmel tonight at 6:30 p.m.
 Soquel closed last season with a rush, rattling off seven straight wins, avenging a loss to league rival Aptos in the CCS title match. It also defeated Carmel in a tournament last year.
 The Knights are welcoming back junior Sam Strah, who compiled nearly 300 kills last season as a sophomore.
 Carmel, who is moving to the Gabilan Division this fall, is coming off a 24 win season, in which it reached the CCS Division IV semifinals.
 Outside hitter Soana Laulotu and her 281 kills are back for the Padres, as is setter Emma Crabbe and defensive specialist Kristin Cardinalli.
 Over the last nine years, Soquel has beaten Carmel four straight times in tournaments. The last time the Padres beat them was in the 2009 CCS Division IV quarterfinals.