Fifth-place Bulldogs have six members recognized
By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – South Region champion Thatcher (8-0) landed eight all-region performers, three on the first team, two on the second team, and three honorable mention.
Region runner-up Tanque Verde (7-1) had eight all-region performers, one on the first team, three on the second team, and five honorable mention; third place Tucson Empire (6-2) had eight all-region performers, one on the first team, one on the second team, and four honorable mention; fourth place Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (5-3) had eight all-region performers, one on the first team, one on the second team, and five honorable mention; fifth place Safford (4-4) had six all-region honorees, one on the second team, and five honorable mention; and sixth place Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (3-5) had five three honorable mention.
Seventh-place Tucson Sabino (2-6), eighth-place Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (1-7), and ninth-place Tucson Catalina (0-8) did not have all-region honorees.
In addition, Thatcher senior Makenzi Lunt (11) was co-Region Player-of-the-Year, and Thatcher head coach Marcie Lopeman was Region Coach-of-the-Year.
Pusch Ridge senior Alexis Ferbeyre (0) was the Region Defensive Player-of-the-Year, Tanque Verde junior Megan Hadley (11) the Region Offensive Player-of-the-Year, and Empire senior Madison Gardner (27) the co-Region Player-of-the-Year.
3A South Region First Team
Thatcher sophomore hitter/middle blocker Jocelyn Lunt (12), senior hitter/middle blocker Makenzi Lunt (11), and senior setter Shaylee Hughes (10) were selected to the first team.
The rest of the first team members were Tanque Verde junior hitter/middle blocker Megan Hadley (11), Empire senior setter Madison Gardner (27), Pusch Ridge senior hitter/middle blocker Kiera Dent (3), and senior libero Alexis Ferbeyre (0).
3A South Region Second Team
Thatcher junior hitter/middle blocker Matti Gallett (8) and senior libero Tyla Bryce (1) were named to the second team.
Other second team members were Tanque Verde senior hitter/middle blocker Delaney Mikkelson (2), freshman hitter/middle blocker Payton Balsiger (12), and senior setter Cayla Vimmerstedt (1); Empire senior hitter/middle blocker Sadie Rust (7); Pusch Ridge junior hitter/middle blocker Ryse Howlett (7); and Safford senior setter Jazzlyn Mortensen (3).
3A South Region Honorable Mention
Thatcher sophomore setter Alli Johnson (2), senior hitter/middle blocker Lanie Larson (6), and senior hitter/middle blocker Kylia Nelson (9) were Honorable Mention.
The remaining honorable mention members were Tanque Verde senior libero Alexis Adams (3), junior hitter/middle blocker Sophia Cheney (14), senior hitter/middle blocker Lily Haase (15), sophomore setter Lauren Rietz (6), and sophomore setter Lauren Strada (10); Empire junior hitter/middle blocker Aspen Bray (16), senior hitter/middle blocker Sasha Mott (18), junior libero Ella Peace (3), and junior libero Addyson White (22); Pusch Ridge senior Kaylyn Collins (12), senior setter Emma Nicholas (4), senior Anna Nikitenko (19), senior Landry Pettit (5), and junior hitter/middle blocker Brooke Sanburn (14); Safford sophomore hitter/middle blocker Kassity Anderson (2), senior libero Kai-Lee Cordova (5), senior hitter/middle blocker Jerzi Hawkins (8), and senior hitter/middle blocker Alexis Rope (10); and Andrada Polytechnic freshman hitter/middle blocker Lacey Brown (22), junior hitter/middle blocker Ginny Czuya (7), junior hitter/middle blocker Mikaela Ellis (26), sophomore libero Josephine Marinone-Knight (5), and freshman hitter/middle blocker Jasmine Schmitz (34).
3A South Region Final Standings
Region member final standings as of Oct. 30 were Thatcher (15-14 overall, 11-6 seeding, 8-0 region), Tucson Tanque Verde (20-11, 13-3, 7-1), Tucson Empire (16-5, 13-4, 6-2), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (18-11, 11-7, 5-3), Safford (16-14, 8-9, 4-4), Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (9-8, 9-8, 3-5), Tucson Sabino (6-18, 4-13, 2-6), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (5-23, 5-13, 1-7), and Tucson Catalina (0-14, 0-14, 0-8).
Tourney results (accounting for overall records) were Thatcher ending 2-4 during the 2-day Mesa Westwood tourney on Sept. 5-6 and 2-4 during the 2-day Snowflake tourney on Sept. 19-20; Tanque Verde ending 5-3 during the 2-day Tucson Magnet tourney on Aug. 29-30 and 2-5 during the 2-day Tucson Salpointe tourney on Sept. 19-20;
Empire ending 3-1 during the Phoenix Horizon Honors tourney on Sept. 6; Pusch Ridge ending 3-3 during the 2-day Payson tourney on Aug. 29-30 and 4-1 during the 2-day Benjamin Franklin tourney on Sept. 19-20; Safford ending 2-3 during the 2-day San Tan Valley Combs tourney on Sept. 12-13 and 6-2 during the Snowflake tourney;
Sabino ending 2-5 during the Tucson Magnet tourney; Palo Verde Magnet ending 0-5 during the Tucson Magnet tourney and 0-5 during the 2-day Tucson Flowing Wells tourney on Oct. 10-11; and both Andrada Polytechnic and Catalina did not schedule a tourney.
3A No. 11 THATCHER Eagles (8.3554 rating)
Thatcher (15-14 overall, 11-6 seeding, 8-0 3A South Region for first of nine) played 17 seeding matches with wins of 3-0 (25-12 thrice) over 4A Gila Region Tucson Amphitheater on Aug. 27, 3-1 (27-25, 21-25, 25-12, 25-17) over 3A Central Region Chandler Seton Catholic Prep on Sept. 2, 3-0 (25-8, 25-21, 30-28) over Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian on Sept. 9, 3-2 (23-25, 19-25, 25-15, 25-11, 15-13) over Tanque Verde on Sept. 30, 3-0 (25-9, 25-10, 25-15) over Andrada Polytechnic on Oct. 6, 3-0 (25-6, 25-6, 25-10) Catalina on Oct. 9, 3-0 over Empire on Oct. 14, 3-0 (25-10, 25-11, 25-10) over Palo Verde Magnet on Oct. 16, 3-1 (25-23, 16-25, 28-26, 25-20) over Pusch Ridge on Oct. 21, 3-0 (25-12, 25-8, 25-11) over Sabino on Oct. 24, and 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 25-19, 24-26, 15-12) over Safford on Oct. 29.
The losses were 1-3 (18-25, 13-25, 25-15, 30-32) to 4A Gila Region Sahuarita on Sept. 11, in 3-sets to 3A Metro region Payson (21-25, 17-25, 18-25) on Sept. 15, and 2-3 (17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 13-15) to Safford on Sept. 23, and 0-3 (16-25, 19-25, 21-25) to 3A Central Region Chandler Valley Christian on Oct. 2, 0-3 (17-25, 14-25, 23-25) to 3A East Region Snowflake on Oct. 7, and 0-3 (22-25, 23-25, 23-25) to 3A East Region Show Low on Oct. 27.
Thatcher also went 2-4 during the 2-day Mesa Westwood tourney on Sept. 5-6 and 3-4 during the 2-day Snowflake tourney on Sept. 19-20.
The Marcie Lopeman-coached Eagles had a 14-member roster of five seniors, five juniors, and four sophomores. The seniors are Tyla Bryce (1), Shaylee Hughes (10), Lanie Larson (6), Makenzie 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 competed 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.
No. 20 SAFFORD Bulldogs (4.111 rating)
Safford (16-14 overall, 8-9 seeding, 4-4 South Region for fifth of nine) played 17 seeding matches with wins of 3-1 (17-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-10) over 4A Gila Region Rio Rico on Sept. 2, 3-1 (30-28, 25-14, 17-25, 25-14) over 4A Gila Region Sahuarita on Sept. 3, 3-0 (25-7, 25-18, 25-10) over Palo Verde Magnet on Sept. 15, 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-13) over Thatcher on Sept.23, 3-0 (20-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-19) over 3A Metro Region Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood on Sept. 25, 3-0 over Catalina on Oct. 2, 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-17) over Sabino on Oct. 16, and 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-9) over Andrada Polytechnic on Oct. 21 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, 0-3 (12-25, 9-25, 11-25) to 3A Central Region Chandler Valley Christian on Sept. 16, 1-3 (9-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-25) to 3A East Region Snowflake on Sept. 30, 2-3 (11-25, 26-24, 20-25, 25-8, 13-15) to Empire on Oct. 8, 0-3 (13-25, 23-25, 13-25) to Pusch Ridge on Oct. 14, 0-3 (20-25, 17-25, 19-25) to Show Low on Oct. 20, 1-3 (24-26, 25-23, 17-25, 17-25) to Tanque Verde on Oct. 23, and 2-3 (18-25, 25-23, 19-25, 26-24, 12-15) to Thatcher on Oct. 29.
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 Jadyn Coy (1).
The Bulldogs competed 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.
Three South Region members qualified for the 16-team state tourney: No. 11 Thatcher, No. 12 Tanque Verde, and No. 16 Safford. Thatcher (16-15 overall) and Tanque Verde (21-12) both bowed out during the quarterfinals, while Safford (16-15) exited during the first round.
3A Play-offs, Championship (Nov. 15)
Top-ranked Chandler Valley Christian (17-0 seeding, 27.4175 rating) defeated No. 2 Phoenix Northwest Christian (15-2, 18.9723) 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-16) for the title in the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 15.
3A Play-offs, Semifinals (Nov. 13)
The top two-ranked teams advanced to the title game via 15-13 semifinal fifth-set scores. Top ranked Valley Christian edged No. 4 Gilbert Christian (14-4, 16.2199) 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 17-25, 25-14, 15-13) and No. 2 Northwest Christian slipped past No. 3 Snowflake (15-2, 76.2199) 3-2 (25-12, 19-25, 17-25, 25-14, 15-13).
Heading into the championship match, the records for the four semifinalists were Valley Christian (33-10 overall, 17-0 seeding, 10-0 Central Region for first of six, 87-27 in sets), Northwest Christian (76-6, 15-2, 11-1 Metro Region for first of seven,79-19), Snowflake (33-9-4, 15-2, 10-0 East Region for first of six, 90-29), and Gilbert Christian (29-8, 14-4, 10-2 Metro Region for second of seven, 81-32).
3A Play-offs, Quarterfinals (Nov. 8)
Upper bracket results had No. 1 Chandler Valley Christian (17-0 seeding, 27.4175 rating) 3-0 (25-6, 25-5, 25- 8) over No. 8 Florence (14-3, 12.87981) and No. 4 Gilbert Christian 3-0 (25-17, 25-5, 25-18) over No. 5 Kayenta Monument Valley (15-2, 15.0051).
The lower bracket advancements were No. 3 Snowflake (15-2, 76.2199) 3-1 (19-25, 25-17, 25-11, 25-20) over No. 11 Thatcher (11-6, 8.3554) and No. 2 Phoenix Northwest Christian 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-23) over No. 7 Surprise American Leadership – West Foothills.
3A Play-offs, First Round (Nov. 8)
One upset occurred, No. 11 Thatcher over No. 6 Show Low in four sets.
Play-in Round winners met the Top eight teams in the first round.
The upper bracket had No. 1 Chandler Valley Christian 3-0 (25-6, 25-5, 25- 8) over No. 16 Safford (8-9, 4.1911), No. 8 Florence 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-19) over No. 9 Yuma Catholic (16-2 seeding, 10.4217 rating), No. 5 Kayenta Monument Valley 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-14) over No. 12 Tucson Tanque Verde (13-3, 8.304), and No. 4 Gilbert Christian 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-12) over No. 13 Tuba City (11-5, 7.971).
Lower bracket pairings had No. 3 Snowflake (15-2, 76.2199) 3-0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-18) over No. 14 Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (11-7, 7.8125), No. 11 Thatcher (11-6, 8.3554) 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-20) over No. 6 Show Low (14-3, 13.5797), No. 7 Surprise American Leadership – West Foothills 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22) over No. 10 Payson (13-5, 8.9539), and No. 2 Phoenix Northwest Christian 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-16) over No. 15 Lakeside Blue Ridge (9-8, 6.2373).
3A Play-in Round (Nov. 4)
There was a lone upset, No. 20 Safford over No. 13 Empire in five sets.
It was No. 9 Yuma Catholic (16-2 seeding, 10.4217 rating) 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-20) over No. 24 Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (7-10, 0.6246), No. 10 Payson (13-5, 8.9539) 3-0 over No. 23 Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (7-10, 1.8962) No. 23, No. 11 Thatcher (11-6, 8.3554) 3-0 (25-20, 28-26, 27-25) over No. 22 Ganado (11-6, 3.1708), and No. 12 Tucson Tanque Verde (13-3, 8.3048) 3-0 over No. 21 Fort Defiance Window Rock (10-6, 3.2106).
Additionally, No. 20 Safford (8-9, 4.1911) 3-2 over No. 13 Tucson Empire (13-4, 8.0994), No. 14 Tuba City (11-5, 7.9710) 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-17, 26-24) over No. 19 Parker (10-7, 4.8838), No. 17 Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (11-7, 7.8125) 3-1 (25-17, 25-17, 27-29, 25-22) over No. 18 Buckeye Odyssey Institute (11-7, 5.6447), and No. 16 Lakeside Blue Ridge (9-8, 6.2373) 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-21, 25-23) over No. 17 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (11-7, 5.8825).
3A State Rankings
The statewide rankings for the Top 8 of 24 3A teams as of 11 a.m. on Oct. 31 were Chandler Valley Christian (17-0 seeding, 27.4175 rating) No. 1, Phoenix Northwest Christian (15-2, 18.9723) No. 2, Snowflake (15-2, 76.2199) No. 3, Gilbert Christian (14-4, 16.2199) No. 4, Kayenta Monument Valley (15-2, 15.0051) No. 5, Show Low (14-3, 13.5797) No. 6, Surprise American Leadership – West Foothills (13-3, 12.9361) No. 7, and Florence (14-3, 12.87981) No. 8.
Final rankings for teams ranked Nos. 9-24 as of 11 a.m. on Oct. 31 were Yuma Catholic (16-2, 10.4217) was No. 9, Payson (13-5, 8.9539) No. 10, Thatcher (11-6, 8.3554) No. 11, Tucson Tanque Verde (13-3, 8.3048) No. 12, Tucson Empire (13-4, 8.0994) No. 13, Tuba City (11-5, 7.9710) No. 14, Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (11-7, 7.8125) No. 15, and Lakeside Blue Ridge (9-8, 6.2373) No. 16.
Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (11-7, 5.8825) was No. 17, Buckeye Odyssey Institute (11-7, 5.6447) No. 18, Parker (10-7, 4.8838) No. 19, Safford (8-9, 4.1911) No. 20, Fort Defiance Window Rock (10-6, 3.2106) No. 21, Ganado (11-6, 3.1708) No. 22, Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (7-10, 1.8962) No. 23, and Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (7-10, 0.6246) No. 24.
The Oct. 3 or end of first week statewide rankings were Chandler Valley Christian (11-0 seeding, 23.5500 rating) No. 1, Phoenix Northwest Christian (9-1, 18.4450) No. 2, Gilbert Christian (9-3, 13.4548) No. 3, Snowflake (7-2, 12.3288) No. 4, Florence (8-1, 10.9422), No. 5, Kayenta Monument Valley (8-2, 10.0632) No. 6, Show Low (8-2, 9.6836) No. 7, and Payson (9-2, 8.7685) No. 8.
Tucson Empire (8-2, 8.3420) was No. 9, Yuma Catholic (9-1, 7.6493) No. 10, Buckeye Odyssey Institute (7-3, 7.4723) No. 11, Safford (6-4, 7.1150) No. 12, Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (6-4, 6.9887) No. 13, Thatcher (4-4, 5.8980) No. 14, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (7-5, 5.8888) No. 15, and Lakeside Blue Ridge (5-4, 5.7004) No. 16. Tucson Tanque Verde (6-3, 4.5450) was No. 17, Surprise American Leadership – West Foothills (4-3, 4.0942) No. 18, Fort Defiance Window Rock (6-2, 2.9266) No. 19, Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (5-6, 2.6603) No. 20, Tuba City (5-4, 2.5218) No. 21, Ganado (6-3, 2.2120) No. 22, Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (4-6, 2.1396) No. 23, and Coolidge (6-3, 1.3697) No. 24.
