Apaches host Roughriders for volleyball opener
By Raymundo Frasquillo
WILLCOX – The Shayla Klump-coached Willcox Cowgirls open the 2026 season by hosting the Jasmine Aguinaga-coached Morenci Wildcats on Wednesday, Aug. 26. The home match has a 6 p.m. start.
The Cowgirls host their second 8-team Cochise County Round-up on Saturday, Aug. 29. Joining Willcox are Bisbee, Fort Thomas, Morenci, Patagonia, San Simon, Sierra Vista American Leadership, and Tombstone.
Also this Week, Fort Thomas hosts Pima at 5 p.m. while Duncan visits Elfrida Valley Union, and Safford visits Benson on Aug. 26; Thatcher visits Tucson Sabino on Thursday, Aug. 27; Duncan hosts Scottsdale Cicero Prep, Willcox hosts Safford, and Morenci visits Eagar Round Valley on Monday, Aug. 31; Fort Thomas hosts Winkelman Hayden, Safford hosts Pima, and Thatcher visits Florence on Tuesday, Sept. 1; and Morenci hosts Miami, Fort Thomas hosts San Carlos, Pima hosts Willcox, and Duncan visits San Simon on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
2A Willcox Cowgirls
Willcox is competing in the 7-member 2A Southeast Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Morenci Wildcats, the Pima Roughriders, the Sierra Vista American Leadership Guardians, and the Tombstone Yellow Jackets.
The Cowgirls were eliminated in four sets during the Play-In Round as No. 17 by No. 16 Kingman Academy last season.
In 2025, the Cowgirls competed in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Morenci Wildcats, the Pima Roughriders, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, and Tucson schools the Desert Christian Eagles, the San Miguel Vipers, the Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, and the Santa Rita Eagles.
2A Morenci Wildcats
There are 11 Wildcats on the varsity roster with two seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen. The seniors are Leayla Mendez-Garcia (7) and Kailee Sandoval (11); juniors Ava Basteen (2), Jayliana Guzzo (1), and Taytum Porter (8); sophomores Araceli Cuhen (4), Kendall Merrill (3), and Justine Tartaglia (5); and freshmen Serenity Chavarria (9), Sophia Davis (6), and Jazmin Williamson (13).
Tartaglia earned All-Region First Team honors as a Hitter/Middle Blocker while both Mendez-Garcia and Basteen were Honorable Mention Setters in 2025.
Morenci is competing in the 7-member 2A Southeast Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Pima Roughriders, the Sierra Vista American Leadership Guardians, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, and the Willcox Cowgirls.
The Wildcats finished as No. 30 and did not qualify for the Play-In Round in 2025.
Last season, the Wildcats competed in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Pima Roughriders, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, the Willcox Cowgirls, and Tucson schools the Desert Christian Eagles, the San Miguel Vipers, the Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, and the Santa Rita Eagles.
2A Pima Roughriders
Pima is competing in the 7-member 2A Southeast Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Morenci Wildcats, the Sierra Vista American Leadership Guardians, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, and the Willcox Cowgirls.
The Roughriders ended as No. 27 and did not qualify for the Play-In Round in 2025.
Last season, the Roughriders competed in the 9-member 2A East Region with the Gilbert Classical Spartans, the Gilbert San Tan Charter Roadrunners, the Chandler Lincoln Prep Lightning, the Gilbert Arete Prep Chargers, the Gilbert Leading Edge Spartans, the Chandler Prep Titans, the Miami Vandals, and the San Carlos Braves.
3A Safford Bulldogs
Safford lists a 13-member roster of five seniors, five juniors, and three sophomores. The seniors are Jaycee Gable, MacKenna Macario, Gabriella Moreno, Jazzlyn Mortensen, and Lanae Shurtz; juniors Kassity Anderson, Kailana Beck, Jaydyn Coy, Martina Reyes, and Alicia Torres; and sophomores Aubri Bonilla, Milee Carter, and Kalia Cordova.
The Bulldogs upset No. 13 Empire in five sets as No. 20 during the Play-In Round before succumbing in three sets (6-25, 5-25, 8-25) as No. 16 to top seed and eventual state champion Chandler Valley Christian during the First Round in 2025.
Mortensen was an All-Region Second Team Setter and Aderdon an Honorable Mention Hitter/Middle Blocker.
The Bulldogs are competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Thatcher Eagles, and Tucson schools the Amphitheater Panthers, the Andrada Polytechnic Mustangs, the Empire Ravens, the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, the Sabino Sabercats, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
Last season the region included the Tucson Catalina Trojans but not Tanque Verde or 4A Amphitheater\.
3A Thatcher Eagles
Thatcher lists a 13-member roster of five seniors, five juniors, and three sophomores. The seniors are Tessa Bryce (1), Marlie Farris (7), Matti Gallett (8), Taylor Henrie (9), and Lillie Welker (14); juniors Jordin Bedford (5), Alli Jihnson (11), Jocelyn Lunt (12), Payten Lunt (3), and Brinlee Skousen (10); and sophomores Makayla Cash (15), Rylen Montoya (4), and Charlotte Tysoe (2).
The No. 12 Eagles handled No. 22 Ganado in three sets (25-20, 28-26, 27-25) during the 2025 Play-In Round, ousted No. 6 Show Low in four sets (20-25, 25-22, 15-19, 25-20) during the First Round, and were eliminated in four sets (25-19, 17-25, 11-25, 20-25) by No. 3 Snowflake during the quarterfinals.
Hitter/Middle Blocker Jocelyn Lunt earned All-Region First Team, Hitter/Middle Blocker Gallett Second Team, and Setter Johnson Honorable Mention. Marcie Lopeman was the Region Coach-of-the-Year.
The Eagles are competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs and Tucson schools the Amphitheater Panthers, the Andrada Polytechnic Mustangs, the Empire Ravens, the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, the Sabino Sabercats, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
Last season, the region included the Tucson Catalina Trojans but not Tanque Verde or 4A Amphitheater.
1A Duncan Wildkats
A 12-member roster is listed by the Wildkats, including three seniors, a junior, four sophomores, and four freshmen. The seniors are Lily Ford (15), Sophia Harris (4), and McKenzie Jones (12); junior Haley Bigler (5); sophomores Emma Harris (7), Peyton Hoglan (8), Karli McKinley (9), and Josie Wright (2); and freshmen Mila Herrera (3), Allie Hughes (11), Ashlyn Jensen (6), and Elyana Whitmer (10).
The Wildkats ended as No. 19 and did not qualify for the Round of 16 last season.
Bigler was on the All-Region Second Team as a Hitter/Middle Blocker while Ford and Sophia Harris received Honorable Mention in 2025.
The Wildkats are competing in the 8-member 1A East Region with the Fort Thomas Apaches, the Kearny Ray Bearcats, the San Manuel Miners, the Scottsdale Cicero Prep Centurions, the Superior Panthers, and the Winkelman Hayden Lobos.
Last season, the 9-member region included the Phoenix Valley Lutheran Flames,
1A Fort Thomas Apaches
Fort Thomas lists a 10-member roster of four seniors, three juniors, and three sophomores. The seniors are Kynnedee Bryce, Kelcie Harvey, Jamie Johnson, and Tranessa Jones; juniors Carmen Antonio, Maliah Duncan, and Dreona Pike; and sophomores Carter Hawkins, Jalayah Johnson, and Aaliyah Peter.
The No. 10 Apaches upset No. 7 Patagonia in four sets (22-25, 27-25, 25-20, 25-23) in the First Round before falling in three sets (20-25, 12-25, 15-25) to No. 2 North Phoenix Prep during the 2025 quarterfinals.
Region Second Team 2025 honors were bestowed on Hitter/Middle Blocker Jamie Johnson and Libero Harvey while Tranessa Jones received Honorable Mention.
The Apaches are competing in the 8-member 1A East Region with the Duncan Wildkats, the Kearny Ray Bearcats, the San Manuel Miners, the Scottsdale Cicero Prep Centurions, the Superior Panthers, and the Winkelman Hayden Lobos.
Last season, the 9-member region included the Phoenix Valley Lutheran Flames,
Cochise County Roundup
Last season, Morenci went 4-0 to capture the inaugural Cochise County Roundup title. The Greenlee County girls topped the Patagonia Lobos (3-1) 2-0 (25-20, 25-19) for the first-place trophy.
The Wildcats qualified for the championship match with three pool play wins of 42-24 over Tucson San Miguel (0-3), 33-25 over Willcox (2-1), and 32-30 over Tombstone (1-2). Other 2A pool play results were Willcox 37-23 over Tombstone and 50-16 over San Miguel, and Tombstone 33-26 over San Miguel.
On the 1A side, Patagonia (3-0) prevailed 34-31 over Fort Thomas (2-1), 46-24 over Tucson’s The Gregory School (1-2), and 44-28 over San Simon (0-3). The other 1A team results were Fort Thomas 34-27 over San Simon and 35-33 over The Gregory School, and The Gregory School 36-28 over San Simon.
The host Willcox Cowgirls defeated the Fort Thomas Apaches 2-0 (25-18 twice) for third place, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets defeated The Gregory School Hawks 2-0 (25-22, 25-21) for fifth place, and the San Simon Longhorns defeated the San Miguel Catholic Vipers 2-1 (25-15, 22-25, 15-13) for seventh place.
A 14-member all-tourney team included Madilyn Clark (Class of 2026), Jayliana Guzzo (2028), and Justine Tartaglia (2029) of Morenci; Brianna Majalca (2026), Monique Snell (2028), and Amaya Somoza (2027) of Patagonia; Kennedy Ebert (2026) and Karlie Saint Clair (2028) of Willcox; Treyiah DeClay (2026) and Jamie Johnson (2027) of Fort Thomas; A.C. Carroll (2027) of Tombstone; Emerson Myers (2027) of The Gregory School; Bryleigh Sloan (2028) of San Simon; and Camila Iniguez (2028) of San Miguel.
