For one of Tampa Bay’s top high school volleyball tournaments, the FHSAA’s move to reduce the maximum number of contests meant a reduced field and fewer games.

But Tampa Prep volleyball coach Mike Flynn, an organizer of the prestigious Tampa Bay Invitational Tournament, received good news Wednesday when the FHSAA rescinded the cuts after an ugly lawsuit loomed.

The tournament draws some of the top teams in the state, but because some teams couldn’t commit to play because of their district schedules, the tournament was forced to reduce its playing field from 16 teams to 12. The maximum number of games each team played was also reduced from five to four.

"Once we heard about a lawsuit and we heard about Title IX being mentioned, we kind of knew something would get done," Flynn said. "So everyone started working the phones. Part of coaching is having contingency plans."

So four teams were placed on a waiting list in case the move was rescinded, and after Wednesday, those four teams – Class 3A defending state champ Lake Highland Prep, P.K. Yonge, Class 6A defending state champ Timber Creek and Durant – were added to the expanded field and the maximum number of games returned to five.

"We were against the cuts in the first place,” Flynn said. “If you know how to manage your money and balance your checkbooks, you don't have problems. We knew as a school we weren't going to be cutting back. But we're used to it. When they start cutting, it's always athletics and the arts."

Keep reading for the entire field for the Tampa Bay Invitational.