Defending champions University of San Carlos (USC) and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) start their bid to retain their titles in the men?s and women's divisions as the Cesafi volleyball tournament kicks off today at the USC gymnasium.

Six matches are on tap in the tournament today but all eyes will be on the champions when they go up against separate opponents.

Back-to-back champions USC Spiking Warriors will tackle Cebu Doctor's University (CDU) at 4 p.m. in the men's draw in the afternoon while on the distaff side, the four-peat seeking USJ-R Lady Spiking Jaguars will battle the University of the Visayas (UV) in the last game of the morning session.

USJ-R remains the team to beat in the tournament as they boast of their stars in former national youth team members Michelle Simbajon and Genie Sabas, along with a formidable support crew composed of Joy Bonita, Sarah Miculob and Aina Laroga.

Head coach Grace Antigua, however, remains wary and maintains that they need to do their absolute best in order to defend their title especially against the likes of bitter rivals University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and the rejuvenated Southwestern University (SWU), who will be debuting their sought-after rookie, Danika Gendraule.

Both teams will also be seeing action today as USPF battles USC in the curtain-raiser at 7:30 a.m. while SWU follows suit when it faces the UC at 9 a.m.

In the men's side, USC will be hard-pressed to fend off the contenders to its crown in the absence of spiker Carlo Tecson. But the Warriors still have reigning MVP Roderick Arenasa in their fold.

Last year's runner-up USPF, will face UC at 1 p.m. while former champions USJ-R takes on CIT at 2:30 p.m.