ASPEN, COLO. - Californians David King and Dan Sayler captured the first title here Thursday (August 28) at the 25th Motherlode Volleyball Classic by winning the Men's Seniors' competition.

Seeded first in the 45 and older event, King (San Cruz) and Sayler (San Luis Obispo) downed second-seeded Jack Flora (Denver, Colo.) and Mike Wirsing (Winter Park, Colo.) twice Thursday, including a 15-6 decision in the title match.

Flora and Wirsing advanced to the championship match by downing fifth-seeded Dave Lawless (Aurora, Colo.) and Bill Post (Vail, Colo.) 15-11 in the finals of the contender's bracket.

Lawless and Post advanced to the contender's final with a 15-11 win over fourth-seeded Tom Hanson (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Bill Noon (Denver).

Fifth-place finishers in the 15-team Men's Seniors field were John Garnett (Boulder, Colo.)/Ron Smith (Denver) and Dan Patterson (Aspen)/Byron Shewman (San Diego, Calif.). Tying for seventh were Mike Cullinane/David Fuchs of Chicago and Dennis Dempsey (Lakewood, Colo.)/Mark Van Natten (Denver).

Play continues Friday as the Motherlode Volleyball Classic has attracted over 600 teams for the five-day event.

Pro-am play in seven men's and five women's classes will be held at six different locations in the Aspen-area. The top players will compete in the "Open" classes for both men and women starting Saturday on sand courts at Koch Lumber Park and Willoughby Park.

Curtis Griffin (Boulder, Colo.) and Erik Moore (Salt Lake City, Utah) are back to defend the Men's Open title that they have won the past two years. The Women's Open will crown a new championship team as Gina Pillitiere (Akron, Ohio) will not return this year after teaming with Shannon Misek (Denver, Colo.) to win the 1996 title. Misek will team with Mardji Hyde (Castle Rock, Colo.).