Eagles paired with Hawks for region match
By Raymundo Frasquillo
GRAHAM COUNTY – The Ruthie Butler-coached 2A East Region Pima Roughriders host the 1A South Region Saint David Tigers on Tuesday, Sept. 30. Pima has a 7-9 overall record, while Saint David is 6-11. The first serve is at 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Marcie Lopeman-coached Thatcher Eagles host the Tanque Verde Hawks for a region counter on Sept. 30 and travel to Chandler for a match with Valley Christian on Thursday, Oct. 2; the Safford Bulldogs visit the Snowflake Lobos on Sept. 30 and Tucson for a region match with Catalina on Oct. 2; and the Fort Thomas Apaches visit the Dishchii’bikoh Wildcats on Sept. 30, host the Duncan Wildkats on Oct. 2, and visit the Elfrida Valley Union Blue Devils on Friday, Oct. 3.
Tombstone visits Greenlee County for a 2A South Region pairing with Morenci on Monday, Sept. 29. The Wildcats head to New Mexico Silver on Sept 30 and to Tucson for a region match with Saint Augustine Catholic on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
SAINT DAVID Tigers
Saint David (6-11 overall, 5-3 seeding, 1-0 region) has played eight seeding matches to date, defeating Heber Mogollon 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 25-27, 25-22, 15-10) on Aug. 29, Tombstone 3-0 (25-10, 25-9, 25-17) on Sept. 2, Baboquivari 3-0 (25-5, 25-5, 25-10) on Sept. 18, Patagonia 3-2 (15-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-17, 15-5) on Sept. 23, and Bisbee 3-0 (25-7, 25-13, 25-14) on Sept.25 along with losses of 2-3 to Benson (23-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-14, 10-15) on Sept. 9, 0-3 (20-25, 19-25, 18-25) to Cicero Prep on Sept. 11, and 1-3 to Willcox (16-25, 30-28, 21-25, 24-26) on Sept. 16.
The Breana Tillett-coached Tigers have a 12-member roster of four seniors, five juniors, and three freshmen. The seniors are Anna Daley (13), Paisley Gooding (3), Austyn Hatch (18), and Emelynn Jacquez (5); juniors Paige Evans (6), Emma Hart (1), Camber Jacquez (7), Piper Merrill (2), Allison Spencer (9); and freshmen Payten McWhorter (11), Mira Judd (12), and Sophia Salinas (4).
Saint David is competing in the 7-member 1A South Region with the Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Sentinels, the Elfrida Valley Union Blue Devils, the Patagonia Lobos, the Nogales Lourdes Catholic Warriors, the San Simon Longhorns, the Sells Baboquivari Warriors, and Tucson’s The Gregory School Hawks.
PIMA Roughriders
Pima (7-9 overall, 6-3 seeding, 0-0 region) has played nine seeding matches to date, defeating Duncan 3-0 (17-25, 23-25, 19-25) on Aug. 27, Fort Thomas 3-0 on Aug. 28, Morenci 3-1 (25-18, 25-16, 25-18, 22-25) on Sept. 4, Globe 3-0 on Sept. 12, Arete Prep 3-0 on Sept. 23, and Leading Edge 3-0 on Sept. 24 along with 3-set losses to Benson (19-25, 14-25, 27-29) on Sept. 4 and Willcox on Sept. 9 plus a 4-set loss to Chandler Prep (13-25, 23-25, 25-18, 17-25) on Sept. 18, and 2-3 to Florence (25-19, 19-25, 25-22, 22-25, 10-15) on Sept. 17.
The Ruthie Butler-coached Roughriders went 0-2 during the Phoenix Horizon Honors tourney on Sept. 6 and 1-4 during the 2-day Snowflake tourney on Sept. 19-20.
Pima is competing in the 9-member 2A East Region with the Chandler Lincoln Prep Lightning, Chandler Prep Titans, Gilbert Arete Prep Chargers, Gilbert Classical Spartans, Gilbert Leading Edge Spartans, Gilbert San Tan Charter Roadrunners, Miami Vandals, and the San Carlos Braves.
2A East Region
Region member standings as of Sept. 27 are Gilbert San Tan Charter (8-1 seeding, 2-0 region), Gilbert Classical (8-3, 2-0), Chandler Prep (4-4, 2-1), Chandler Lincoln Prep (3-6, 2-1), Pima (6-3, 2-1), Gilbert Arete Prep (3-5, 1-1), Miami (1-7, 0-2), Gilbert Leading Edge (0-6, 0-2), and San Carlos (2-6, 0-3).
To date in 11 region pairings, it was San Tan Charter 3-0 (25-7, 25-11, 25-21) over San Carlos on Sept. 23 and 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-12) over Chandler Prep on Sept. 25; Gilbert Classical 3-0 (25-12, 27-25, 25-17) over San Carlos on Sept. 12 and 3-0 (25-14,25- 7,25-17) over Lincoln Prep on Sept. 23; Chandler Prep 3-1 (25-13, 25-23, 18-25, 25-17) over Pima on Sept. 18 and 3-0 (25-3, 25-5, 25-10) over Miami on Sept. 23; Lincoln Prep 3-0 (27-25, 25-18, 25-12) over Leading Edge on Sept. 11 and 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-16) over Miami on Sept. 25; Pima 3-0 over Arete Prep on Sept. 23 and 3-0 over Leading Edge on Sept. 25; and Arete Prep 3-0 over San Carlos on Sept. 18.
This week (Sept. 29 – Oct. 4) in the 2A East Region, Chandler Prep hosts 2A Central Region Scottsdale Christian, Lincoln Prep hosts 1A West Region Phoenix Great Hearts Anthem Prep, Arete Prep hosts 1A West Region Phoenix Maryvale Prep, Miami hosts 2A Valley Region Florence American Leadership – Anthem South on Sept. 29; San Tan Charter visits 2A West Region Avondale Highland Prep West, Chandler Prep hosts Phoenix Country Day School, Pima hosting 1A South Region Saint David on Sept. 30; Lincoln Prep hosts 2A Central Region Fountain Hills, Arete Prep hosts Leading Edge, Miami hosts 1A East Region Superior, and San Carlos visits 3A East Region Whiteriver Alchesay on Oct. 1; and San Tan Charter visits 3A Independent American Leadership – Mesa North, Arete Prep hosts 2A West Region Wickenburg on Oct. 2.
TANQUE VERDE Hawks
Tanque Verde (13-10 overall, 6-2 seeding, 0-0 region) has played eight seeding matches to date, with wins of 3-0 (25-8, 25-14, 25-18) over Tucson Cholla on Aug. 27, 3-1 (25-15, 25-16, 25-17) over Rio Rico on Sept. 11, 3-0 () over Coolidge on Sept. 15, 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-15, 32-30) over Apache Junction on Sept. 17, 3-1 () over Sahuarita on Sept. 22, and 3-0 () over Catalina on Sept. 23 along with losses of 1-3 (12-25, 10-25, 15-25) to Empire on Aug.28 and 0-3 (18-25, 21-25, 12-25) Tucson Sahuaro on Sept. 8.
The Adam Shingler-coached Hawks also went 5-3 during the 2-day Tucson Magnet tourney on Aug. 29-30 and 2-5 during the 2-day Marana Mountain View tourney on Sept. 19-20.
Tanque Verde has a 16-member roster of four seniors, five juniors, five sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors are Lilly Haase (15), Delaney Mikkelson (2), Maddy Miller (7), and Cayla Vimmerstedt (1); juniors Alexa Adams (3), Faith Arvizu (4), Sophia Cheney (14), Megan Hadley (11), and Michaela Peck (13); sophomore Ella Haggard (9), Elise Mansour (8), Lauren Rietz (6), Brook Savage (5), and Lauren Strada (10); and freshmen Payton Balsiger (12), Makayla Hanna (16).
The Hawks are competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs, the Thatcher Eagles, along with Tucson schools, the Empire Ravens, the Andrada Polytechnic Mavericks, the Catalina Trojans, the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, and the Sabino Sabercats.
VALLEY CHRISTIAN Trojans
Valley Christian (16-8 overall, 8-0 seeding, 3-0 region) has played eight seeding matches to date, defeating Apache Junction 3-0 (25-3, 25-9, 25-4) on Aug. 28, Gilbert Christian 3-2 (18-25, 19-25, 25-16, 27-25, 15-6) on Sept. 3, Phoenix Northwest Christian 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-18) on Sept. 9, Snowflake 3-0 (26-24, 27-25, 25-17) on Sept. 11, Kayenta Monument Valley 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-10) on Sept. 13, Safford 3-0 (25-12,25- 9,25- 11) on Sept. 16, Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (25-21, 25-19, 25-14) on Sept. 18, and Globe 3-0 (25-13, 25-2, 25-9) on Sept. 23.
The Tyler Trathen-coached Trojans also went 6-3 during the Mesa Westwood tourney on Sept. 5-6 and 2-5 during the 2-day Mesa Dobson tourney on Sept. 26-27.
Valley Christian has a 14-member roster of a senior, seven juniors, five sophomores, and a freshman. The senior is Ellie Gregg (7); juniors Peyton Berry (14), Abby Grier (25), Emily Leppert (19), Grace Lottich (33), Sydney Simon (6), Ansley Venkatesh (11), and Sadie Wahlin (13); sophomores Cahlea Arneson (4), Tori Miller (20), Piper Nelson (28), Kaelin Walls (10), and Elyse Wolf (15); and freshman Kaydence Hirsch (3).
The Trojans are competing in the 6-member 3A Central Region with the Apache Junction Prospectors, the Chandler Seton Catholic Knights, the Coolidge Bears, the Globe Tigers, and the Florence Gophers.
THATCHER Eagles
Thatcher (6-11 overall, 3-3 seeding, 0-0 region) has played five seeding matches to date, defeating 4A Gila Region Tucson Amphitheater 3-0 (25-12 thrice) on Aug. 27, 3A Central Region 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 4A Gila Region Sahuarita (18-25, 13-25, 25-15, 30-32) on Sept. 11, in 3-sets to 3A Metro region Payson (21-25, 17-25, 18-25) on Sept. 15, and in five sets to Safford (17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 13-15) on Sept. 23.
The Marcie Lopeman-coached Eagles also went 2-4 during the 2-day Mesa Westwood tourney on Sept. 5-6 and 1-4 during the 2-day Snowflake tourney on Sept. 19-20.
Thatcher has 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).
The Eagles are competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs, along with Tucson schools, the Empire Ravens, the Andrada Polytechnic Mavericks, the Catalina Trojans, the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, the Sabino Sabercats, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
SNOWFLAKE Lobos
Snowflake (19-7 overall, 5-2 seeding, 3-0 region) has played seven seeding matches to date, with wins of 3-0 (25-15, 25-11, 25-15) over Tuba City on Sept. 2, 3-0 (25-20, 25-11, 25-21) over Lakeside Blue Ridge on Sept. 16, 3-0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-16) over Winslow on Sept. 18, 3-0 (25-8, 25-15, 25-16) over Page on Sept. 23, and 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-23) over Show Low on Sept. 25 along with losses of 0-3 (11-25, 16-25, 22-25) to Gilbert Christian on Aug. 27 and 0-3 (18-25, 21-25, 12-25) to Chandler Valley Christian on Sept. 11.
The Alicia LaDuke-coached Lobos also went 5-4 during the 2-day Mesa Westwood tourney on Sept. 5-6 and 9-1 during their own 2-day tourney on Sept. 19-20.
Snowflake has a 12-member roster of eight seniors, two juniors, and two sophomores. The seniors are Gracie Bogle (13), Ryah Denhalter (1), Hailey Jones (5), Amrie Lewis (7), Alyssa Peterson (8), Taya Schneider (11), Kiehra Wahl (3), and Ranell West (14); juniors Bryn Kupfer (12) and Mary Orr (9); and sophomores Lucy Lyman (2) and Mairead Stradling (10).
The Lobos are competing in the 6-member 3A East Region with the Holbrook Roadrunners, Lakeside Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets, the Show Low Cougars, the Whiteriver Alchesay Falcons, and the Winslow Bulldogs.
CATALINA Trojans
Catalina (0-7 overall, 0-7 seeding, 0-1 region) has played seven seeding matches to date, with losses of 0-3 to Tucson Cholla on Aug. 29, 0-3 to San Miguel Catholic on Sept. 2, 0-3 (5-25, 10-25, 9-25) to Desert Christian on Sept. 5, 0-3 (11-25, 10-25, 10-25) to Tucson Amphitheater on Sept. 10, 1-3 to Palo Verde Magnet on Sept. 17, 0-3 to San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills on Sept. 18, and 0-3 (9-25, 12-25, 4-25) to Tanque Verde on Sept. 23.
The Oscar Morales-coached Trojans are competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs, the Thatcher Eagles, along with Tucson schools, the Empire Ravens, the Andrada Polytechnic Mavericks, the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, the Sabino Sabercats, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
SAFFORD Bulldogs
Safford (13-8 overall, 5-3 seeding, 0-0 region) has played eight seeding matches to date with 4-set wins over 4A Gila Region Rio Rico (17-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-10) on Sept. 2 and over 4A Gila Region Sahuarita (30-28, 25-14, 17-25, 25-14) on Sept. 3, a 3-set win (25-7, 25-18, 25-10) over Palo Verde Magnet on Sept. 15, a 5-set (25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-13) win over Thatcher on Sept.23, and a 4-set (20-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-19) win over 3A Metro Region Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood on Sept. 25 along with losses of 0-3 (11-25, 18-25, 21-25) to 3A East Region Lakeside Blue Ridge on Sept. 4, 2-3 (25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 21-25, 12-15) to 5A Sonoran Region Tucson Canyon del Oro on Sept. 8, and 0-3 (12-25, 9-25, 11-25) to 3A Central Region Chandler Valley Christian on Sept. 16.
The Makenna Farr-coached Bulldogs also went 2-3 during the San Tan Valley Combs tourney on Sept. 12-13 and 6-2 during the Snowflake tourney on Sept. 19-20.
Safford has 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).
The Bulldogs are competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Thatcher Eagles, along with Tucson schools, the Empire Ravens, the Andrada Polytechnic Mavericks, the 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 (2021-24) 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. 27 were Tucson Tanque Verde (6-2 seeding, 1-0 region), Safford (5-3, 1-0), Tucson Empire (6-2, 0-0), Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (5-2, 0-0), Thatcher (3-3, 0-0), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (4-6, 0-1), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (4-4, 0-0), Tucson Sabino (2-5, 0-0), and Tucson Catalina (0-7, 0-1).
To date in two region matches, 3-set wins were Tanque Verde over Catalina (25-9, 25-12, 25-4) on Sept. 23 and Safford over Palo Verde Magnet (25-7, 25-18, 25-10) on Sept. 15.
This week (Sept. 29 – Oct. 4), Pusch Ridge visits 5A Sonoran Region Marana Mountain View on Sept. 29; Tanque Verde visits Thatcher, Safford visits 3A East Region Snowflake, Empire hosts Pusch Ridge, Sabino visits Catalina on Sept. 30; Pusch Ridge visits Sabino on Oct. 1; and Safford visits Catalina, Empire visits Sabino, Thatcher visits 3A Central Region Valley Christian, Palo Verde Magnet visits Pusch Ridge on Oct. 2;
2A South Region
Region member standings as of Sept. 27 were Tucson Desert Christian (5-1 seeding, 2-0 region), Willcox (6-2, 1-0),
Tucson San Miguel Catholic (2-7, 1-1), Benson (5-1, 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.
1A East Region
Region member standings as of Sept. 27 were Scottsdale Cicero Prep (9-0 seeding, 3-0 region), Duncan (4-4, 1-1), Fort Thomas (5-3, 1-1), Phoenix Valley Lutheran (2-6, 1-1), Superior (4-2, 0-0), Kearny Ray (3-4, 0-0), Winkelman Hayden (1-7, 0-3), and San Manuel (1-7, 0-0).
Six region matches have been played to date, with results of Cicero Prep over Hayden 3-0 (25-7, 25-7, 25-17) on Sept. 16, over Fort Thomas 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-12) on Sept. 18, and over Duncan 3-0 (25-16, 25-7, 25-12) on Sept. 25; Duncan over Phoenix Valley Lutheran 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-8, 25-22) on Sept. 13; and Valley Lutheran over Hayden 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-13) on Sept. 22. This week (Sept. 29 – Oct. 4), region member pairings have Cicero Prep hosting Valley Lutheran, Duncan visiting Ray, Fort Thomas visiting 1A North Region Dishchii’bikoh, Hayden hosting San Manuel on Sept. 30; Superior hosting 2A East Region Miami on Oct. 1; Cicero Prep hosting Ray, Duncan visiting Fort Thomas, Valley Lutheran visiting San Manuel, Superior hosting Hayden on Oct. 2; Fort Thomas visiting Valley Union on Oct. 3; and Ray visiting 1A South Region San Simon on Oct. 4.
