Warriors visit Bulldogs on Thursday
By Raymundo Frasquillo
SAFFORD – The Marcie Lopeman-coached Thatcher Eagles enter Norma Bellamy Gymnasium on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The pairing is not for 3A South Region play, as that match is in Thatcher on Oct. 29.
The Eagles have a 13-5 overall record (43-20 sets) against the Bulldogs during the previous decade (2015-2024), are 6-2 (20-9 sets) in Safford, and won nine consecutive matches (27-3 sets) from 2018 to 2022.
However, Safford has won the most recent three pairings (9-0 sets), and the Eagles are 0-2 (0-6 sets) versus the Bulldogs under Coach Lopeman.
The first serve is at 5 p.m.
THATCHER Eagles
Thatcher (3-2 seeding, 0-0 region) has played five seeding matches to date, defeating Tucson Amphitheater 3-0 (25-12 thrice) on Aug. 27, Chandler Seton Catholic Prep 3-1 (27-25, 21-25, 25-12, 25-17) on Sept. 2, and Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian 3-0 (25-8, 25-21, 30-28) on Sept. 9 along with 4-set loss to Sahuarita (18-25, 13-25, 25-15, 30-32) on Sept. 11 and in 3-sets to Payson (21-25, 17-25, 18-25) on Sept. 15.
The Marcie Lopeman-coached Eagles have a 14-member roster of five seniors, five juniors, and four sophomores. The seniors are Tyla Bryce (1), Shaylee Hughes (10), Lanie Larson (6), Makenze Lunt (11), and Kylia Nelson (9); juniors Tessa Bryce (5), Marlee Farris (7), Matti Gallett (8), Taylor Henrie (14), and Lillie Welker (4; and sophomores Allie Johnson (2), Jocelyn Lunt (12), Payten Lunt (3), and Brinlee Skousen (13).
Thatcher is competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs, along with Tucson schools, the Empire Ravens, the Andrada Polytechnic Mavericks, Catalina Trojans, the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, the Sabino Sabercats, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
ALA – IRONWOOD Warriors
ALA – Ironwood (3-3 seeding, 0-0 region) has played six seeding matches to date, defeating ALA – Mesa North 3-0 (25-8, 25-14, 25-18) on Aug. 28, Gilbert Arete Prep 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-17) on Sept. 3, and Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-15, 32-30) on Sept.15 along with 3-set losses to Gilbert Christian (12-25, 10-25, 15-25) on Sept. 4 and Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (18-25, 21-25, 12-25) on Sept. 9, and 2-3 to Florence (25-19, 19-25, 25-22, 22-25, 10-15) on Sept. 17.
The Randi Eaton-coached Warriors have a 14-member roster of three seniors, 10 juniors, and a sophomore. The seniors are Sarah Crosland (12), Shaylee Holthe (2), and Ava Schott (4); juniors Madisyn Bernardo (8), Paisley Blair (7), Faith Brady (16), Elizabeth Cox (6), Anastyn Lee (1), Reagan Meisgeier (11), Alexis Nolan (9), Symantha Ortega (3), Emilee Rodriguez (5), and Hannah Vanmeter (17); and sophomore Jaelle Thompson (10).
ALA – Ironwood is competing in the 7-member 3A Metro Region with the Gilbert Christian Knights, the Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin Chargers, the Payson Longhorns, Phoenix Bourgade Catholic Golden Eagles, the Phoenix Northwest Christian Crusaders, and the San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills Sabercats.
SAFFORD Bulldogs
Safford (3-3 seeding, 0-0 region) has played six seeding matches to date with 4-set wins over Rio Rico (17-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-10) on Sept. 2 and over Sahuarita (30-28, 25-14, 17-25, 25-14) on Sept. 3, and a 3-set win (25-7, 25-18, 25-10) over Palo Verde Magnet on Sept. 15 along with losses of 0-3 (11-25, 18-25, 21-25) to Lakeside Blue Ridge on Sept. 4, 2-3 (25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 21-25, 12-15) to Tucson Canyon del Oro on Sept. 8, and 0-3 (12-25, 9-25, 11-25) to Chandler Valley Christian on Sept. 16.
The Makenna Farr-coached Bulldogs have a 13-member roster of eight seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores. The seniors are Marina Balistreri (11), Kai-Lee Cordova (5), Alana Foxworth (6), Jerzi Hawkins (8), Rhylie Klajda (4), Mia Peru (12), Bianca Quintero (7), and Alexis Rope (10); juniors Mackenna Macario (9), Jazzlyn Mortensen (3), and Lanae Shurtz (13); and sophomores Kassidy Anderson (2) and Jatdyn Coy (1).
Safford is competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Thatcher Eagles along with Tucson schools, the Empire Ravens, the Andrada Polytechnic Mavericks, Catalina Trojans, the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, the Sabino Sabercats, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
Farr is in her initial season as the head coach, following a 4-year tenure (2021-24) under Robert Abalos (103-52-1 overall, 49-19 seeding, 27-9 region, 23-13 at home, 1-4 state playoffs, 2-0 play-in round).
3A South Region
Region member standings as of Sept. 20 were Safford (2-2 seeding, 0-0 region), Tucson Empire (5-1, 0-0), Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (5-2, 0-0), Tucson Tanque Verde (4-2, 0-0), Thatcher (3-2, 0-0), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (4-4, 0-1), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (2-4, 0-0), Tucson Sabino (1-5, 0-0), and Tucson Catalina (0-6, 0-0).
This week, Empire visits Marana, Tanque Verde hosts Sahuarita on Sept. 22; Safford hosts Thatcher, Tanque Verde visits Catalina, Pusch Ridge visits 2A South Region Tucson Desert Christian, Sabino hosts 2A South Region Tucson San Miguel Catholic on Sept. 23; Empire hosts 5A Sonoran Region Marana Mountain View, Palo Verde Magnet visits 4A Gila Region Douglas on Sept. 24; Safford hosts 3A Metro Region Queen Creek American Leadrship – Ironwood on Sept. 25; and Palo Verde Magnet hosts 4A Gila Region Tucson Amphitheater, Pusch Ridge hosts 2A Valley Region Florence American Leadership – Anthem South on Sept. 26.
2A South Region
Region member standings as of Sept. 20 were Tucson Desert Christian (4-0 seeding, 1-0 region), Tucson San Miguel Catholic (2-7, 1-1), Benson (5-1, 0-0), Willcox (4-2, 0-0), Tombstone (4-4, 0-0), Morenci (2-4, 0-0), Bisbee (1-4, 0-0), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (1-4, 0-1), and Tucson Santa Rita (0-7, 0-0).
To date in region pairings, San Miguel defeated Saint Augustine 3-1 (25-21, 27-25, 19-25, 25-14) on Sept. 11 and Desert Christian defeated San Miguel 3-0 (25-12, 25-9, 25-10) on Sept. 16.
This week in the 2A South Region, Benson visits Tombstone, Bisbee hosts Saint Augustine on Sept. 22; Desert Christian hosts 3A South Region Tucson Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian, San Miguel visits 3A South Region Tucson Sabino, Bisbee visits 1A South Region Elfrida Valley Union on Sept. 23; Benson visits Saint Augustine on Sept. 24; Desert Christian visits Tombstone, San Miguel visits Santa Rita, Benson visits 1A South Region Tucson’s The Gregory School, Willcox hosts Saint Augustine, Bisbee visits 1A South Region Saint David on Sept. 25; and Willcox visits 2A North Region Eagar Round Valley on Saturday, Sept. 27.
2A East Region
Region member standings as of Sept. 20 are Gilbert Classical (7-2 seeding, 1-0 region), Chandler Prep (3-3, 1-0), Chandler Lincoln Prep (2-5, 1-0), Gilbert Arete Prep (3-4, 1-0), Gilbert San Tan Charter (6-0, 0-0), Pima (4-3, 0-1), Miami (1-5, 0-0), San Carlos (2-4, 0-2), and Gilbert Leading Edge (0-4, 0-1).
To date in region pairings, Lincoln Prep defeated Leading Edge 3-0 (27-25, 25-18, 25-12) on Sept. 11, Gilbert Classical defeated San Carlos 3-0 (25-12, 27-25, 25-17) on Sept. 12, Chandler Prep defeated Pima 3-1 (25-13, 25-23, 18-25, 25-17) on Sept. 18, and Arete Prep defeated San Carlos 3-0 on Sept. 18. This week in the 2A East Region, San Tan Charter hosts 2A Central Region Scottsdale Christian and Leading Edge visits 3A Central Region Apache Junction on Sept. 22; Gilbert Classical hosts Lincoln Prep, Chandler Prep hosts Miami, Arete Prep hosts Pima, San Tan Charter hosts San Carlos on Sept. 23; Pima visits Leading Edge on Sept. 24; Chandler Prep visits San Tan Charter, Lincoln Prep hosts Miami on Sept. 25; and Gilbert Classical hosts 2A Valley Region Phoenix Veritas Prep on Sept. 26.
