VOLLEYBALL

* Cal State Northridge’s men’s team is ranked No. 10 in the nation, its first time in the Top 10 since January 1997.

The Matadors (5-6, 3-5 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play) missed an upset in a five-game loss to No. 1-ranked Pepperdine last week. Two days later, Northridge defeated then-No. 10 Loyola Marymount in five games.

“There’s a level of expectation now,” said Coach Jeff Campbell of Northridge. “It’s a different type of pressure. But we’re definitely happy about it.”

Opposite hitter Eckhard Walter of Northridge, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, is the MPSF player of the week.

Walter had 27 kills against Pepperdine and 32 kills in 53 attempts against Loyola Marymount. He also had six aces and eight digs against Pepperdine.

TENNIS

* First Serve Entertainment, a promotional company owned by former professional Vijay Amritraj, will conduct an USTA/ATP men’s challenger tournament July 10-16 at Braemar Country Club in Tarzana.

Challenger events feature young players on the rise and veterans seeking ATP points for world rankings. The Braemar event joins Burbank as the only challenger tournaments in the San Fernando Valley.

“This is a great opportunity to see some of the best young professional players from various parts of the world compete against each other,” said Amritraj, who lives in Encino.

“I am looking forward to this being an annual event to promote tennis.”

The tournament will feature pro-am and pro-celebrity tennis matches, a pro-am golf event and other sponsor activities.

Information: Rick Workman at (818) 345-3230 or Max Gupta at (818) 988-5299.