The four volleyball courts seem almost miniaturized at the Arizona Saguaros’ home facility at the Atkinson Pavilions in Phoenix. The facility has more 24,000 square feet of court surface and looks like you could park a 747 in the building. It’s a big place—appropriate for big dreams.

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The Arizona Saguaros, founded by Rosario Lopez and his family, started out as a club volleyball team in 2004 in Litchfield Park and played out of the Gonzales Gym in Tolleson.

The club operation expanded, changed its name from the Litchfield Juniors Volleyball Club to the Arizona Saguaros and found a larger home.

Atkinson Pavilions is part of middle school-elementary school complex from a converted mall in the city’s Maryvale area.

The Pavilions itself began life as a practice facility for the Phoenix Pride, a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise (originally known as the Inferno) that played from 1981-1984.

It has a substantial area for spectator seating, big enough that when the soccer team hit the financial skids, owner Bruce Merrill proposed moving the team’s games from the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. (The league, however, did not think it was big enough).

The Saguaros started Team Phoenix, a sponsored women’s team. Lopez has plans to enter the women’s and junior teams in international leagues and tournaments.

He is also determined to attract international teams to events at the Pavilions. UACJ from Mexico played there Sunday in a women’s event.

The Saguaros will host a Presidents Day Festival in February, the Arizona Wigwam AAU Super Regional in April, plus the Memorial Day Classic, the Arizona Volleyball Recruiters Combine and the Jr. High Best in the West Showdown in November.

Besides coaching a team and running a tournament on Sunday, Lopez coached the Arizona Saguaros-International 18u Saturday in a juniors club championship event.

The Saguaros— led by NCAA Division 1 signee Janelle Wilson, Sarah Laird and Miage Hubbard— won their flight.