Desert Sunset volleyball tourney debuts in Safford
By Raymundo Frasquillo
PIMA – The Ruthie Butler-coached Pima Roughriders (4-7 overall) host the 1A South Region Saint David Tigers (14-3) on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Also this week (Sept. 28-Oct. 3) for 2A Southeast Region members, Benson visits Sierra Vista American Leadership, Tombstone hosts Pima, Willcox visits Globe, and Bisbee visits 1A South Region Patagonia on Monday, Sept. 28; Morenci visits New Mexico Silver City 4A District 3 Silver on Tuesday, Sept. 29; Benson visits Tucson’s The Gregory School, Sierra Vista ALA hosts Bisbee, Morenci visits 2A East Region San Carlos on Wednesday, Sept. 30; and Morenci, Pima, Sierra Vista ALA, Tombstone, and Willcox will be participating in the 2-day, 13-team Safford tourney on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 2-3.
In the 2A East Region this week, San Tan Charter visits 2A Valley Region Laveen Heritage, Globe hosts 2A Southeast Region Willcox, Gilbert Classical hosts 2A Valley Region Tempe Prep, Lincoln Prep hosts 2A Central Region Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep, and Miami visits 2A Central Region Mesa Heritage on Sept. 28; San Tan Charter visits 2A Southeast Region Globe, Lincoln Prep visits 2A Central Region Scottsdale Prep, San Carlos hosts 2A Southeast Region Morenci, and Miami hosts w2A Valley Region Phoenix NFL Yet on Sept. 30; Lincoln Prep visits Laveen Heritage on Oct. 2; and Globe will be participating in the 2-day, 13-team Safford tourney on Oct. 2-3.
1A Saint David Tigers (8-0 seeding)
The Breana Tillett-coached Saint David Tigers (14-3 overall, 8-0 seeding, 2-0 region) have seeding wins of 3-1 (25-17, 17-25, 25-17, 25-13), over 2A Southeast Region Tombstone on Aug. 28, of 3-0 (25-5, 25-3, 25-7) over ASDB on Sept. 2, of 3-0 (25-3, 25-11, 25-9) over Nogales Lourdes Catholic on Sept. 4, over 1A East Region San Manuel of 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-6) on Sept. 9, of 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-22) over 1A North Region Heber Mogollon on Sept. 11, of 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-12) over 1A East Region Duncan on Sept. 15, of 3-0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-9) over San Simon on Sept. 21, and of 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-23) over 2A Southeast Region Willcox on Sept. 23.
In addition, the Tigers went 2-2 during the Arete Prep tourney on Sept. 12 and 4-1 during the Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin tourney on Sept. 25-26. Saint David defeated 3A West Region Buckeye Odyssey Institute 2-0 (25-22, 25-19), 2A Valley Region Tempe Prep 2-0 (27-25, 25-16) on Sept. 12, 3A East Region Benjamin Franklin 2-0 (26-24, 25-15), 2A East Region Chandler Lincoln Prep 2-0 (25-9, 25-14), and 4A West Valley Region Peoria 2-0 (29-27, 25-17) on Sept. 25 and 4A Desert Sky Region Glendale Deer Valley 2-0 (25-16, 25-21) on Sept. 26 as well as succumbed to 3A East Region Maricopa Heritage by 0-2 (19-25, 17-25) and to 2A West Region Glendale Prep by 0-2 (18-25, 17-25) on Sept. 12 and to 6A East Valley Mesa Dobson 0-2 (22-25, 16-25) on Sept. 26.
There are 11 Tigers on the varsity roster with six seniors, two sophomores, and three freshmen. The seniors are Paige Evans (6), Emma Hart (1), Camber Jacquez (7), Addison Merrill (5), Katelyn Patton (2), and Allison Spencer (9); sophomores Payton McWhorter (13) and Sophia Salinas (4); and freshman Dakota Cobb (18), Briklyn Jacquez (23), and Brielle Tracey (11).
Saint David is competing in the 7-member 2A South Region with the Elfrida Valley Union Blue Devils, the Nogales Lourdes Catholic Warriors, the Patagonia Lobos, the San Simon Longhorns, the Tucson Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind Sentinels, and Tucson’s The Gregory School Griffins.
2A Pima Roughriders (6-5 seeding)
The Ruthie Butler-coached Pima Roughriders (8-9 overall, 6-5 seeding, 0-0 region) have seeding wins of 3-0 (25-18, 29-27, 25-14) over Fort Thomas on Aug. 26, of 3-1 (25-23,25-17, 23-25, 29-27) over Globe on Sept. 9, of 3-1 (16-25, 25-16, 25-13, 25-20) over Tombstone on Sept. 16, of 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-15) over Morenci on Sept. 21, of 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-9) over Bisbee on Sept. 23, and of 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12) over Tombstone on Sept. 28 along with losses of 0-3 (19-25, 14-25, 13-25) to Safford on Sept. 1, of 1-3 (16-25, 20-25, 25-15, 19-25) to Willcox on Sept. 2, of 1-3 (12-25, 25-22, 21-25, 21-25) to Round Valley on Sept. 4, of 2-3 (22-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-11, 12-15) to Benson on Sept. 8, and of 2-3 (25-22, 17-25, 26-28, 25-22, 8-15) to Sierra Vista ALA on Sept. 14.
Additionally, Pima went 1-2 during the 2-day Snowflake tourney on Sept. 18-19. The Roughriders defeated 2A North Region Eagar Round Valley 2-0 and fell to 6A East Valley Region Mesa Red Mountain 1-2 (10-21, 22-20, 4-15) and 3A Metro Mountain Region Lakeside Blue Ridge 0-2 (11-21, 14-21) on Sept. 18.
There are 11 Roughriders on the varsity roster with five seniors, three juniors, and three sophomores. The seniors are Cheyanne Alder (1), Shante Butler (15), Demi Derrick (5), Trista Hatch (4), and Morgan Russell (9); juniors Audrey Brimhall (6), Elle McRae (8), and Ashley Payne (7); and sophomores Taylor Ashby (3), Tynzli Hatch (11), and Harlee McBiles (2).
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.
2A Morenci Wildcats (2-6 seeding)
The Jasmine Aguinaga-coached Morenci Wildcats (3-9* overall, 2-6 seeding, 0-0 region) have seeding wins of 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-10) over Miami on Sept. 2 and of 3-0 over Bisbee on Sept. 17 along with losses of 1-3 (25-23, 27-29, 21-25, 18-25) to Willcox on Aug. 26, of 1-3 (18-25, 18-25, 25-23, 11-25) to Eagar Round Valley on Aug. 31, of 1-3 (25-20, 19-25, 12-25, 22-25) to Sierra Vista American Leadership on Sept. 9, of 0-3 (16-25, 16-25, 23-25) to Benson on Sept. 14, of 0-3 (16-25, 17-25, 15-25) to Pima on Sept. 21, and of 1-3 (8-25, 20-25, 25-19, 20-25) to Tombstone on Sept. 23.
In addition, Morenci went 0-3 in pool play and finished seventh during an 8-team Second Cochise County Round-up in Willcox on Aug. 29. The Wildcats fell 31-34 to Sierra Vista American Leadership, 30-36 to Willcox, and 29-36 to Tombstone. The placement win was 2-1 (25-13, 17-25, 15-7) over Bisbee.
The Wildcats also participated in the2-day Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin tourney on Sept. 25-26.
There are 12 Wildcats on the varsity roster with a lone senior, three juniors, four sophomores, and three freshmen. The senior is Kailee Sandoval (11); juniors Ava Basteen (2), Jayliana Guzzo (1), and Taytum Porter (8); sophomores Araceli Cuhen (4), Analisa Cuhen (6), Kendall Merrill (3), and Justine Tartaglia (5); and freshmen Serenity Chavarria (9), Sophia Davis (6), Kloiie Kidd (13), and Jazmin Williamson (12).
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.
2A Globe Tigers (7-5 seeding)
The Sandy French-coached Globe Tigers (7-5 overall, 7-5 seeding, 1-1 region) have seeding wins of 3-0 (25-4, 25-13, 25-9) over San Manuel on Aug. 31, of 3-0 (30-28, 25-22, 26-24) over Whiteriver Alchesay on Sept. 1, of 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-14) over Kearny Ray on Sept. 2, of 3-0 over Florence American Leadership – Anthem South on Sept. 15, of 3-0 (25-6, 25-14, 25-17) over Tucson San Miguel on Sept. 17, of 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-19) over San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills on Sept. 21, and of 3-2 (15-25, 25-12, 25-19, 24-26, 15-11) over San Carlos on Sept. 23 along with losses of 1-3 (23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 27-29) to Pima on Sept. 9, of 0-3 (17-25, 16-25, 10-25) to Mesa North American Leadership on Sept.11, of 0-3 (17-25, 15-25, 21-25) to Gilbert Arete Prep on Sept. 14, of 0-3 (19-25, 11-25, 17-25) to Saint Johns on Sept. 24, and of 0-3 (17-25, 14-25, 29-31) to Willcox on Sept. 28.
There are 10 Vandals on the varsity roster with five seniors, two juniors, and three sophomores. The seniors are Mckaila Dillon (26), Ivorie Sisto (25), Allie Stevens (21), Azucena Medrano (10), and Audiyana Navarro (11); juniors Caylee Casillas (1) and Jayde Verdugo (12); and sophomores Hailey Campise (6), Olive Hansen (17), and Mia Kruger (27).
Globe is competing in the 7-member 2A East Region with the Chandler Lincoln Prep Lightning, the Gilbert Arete Prep Chargers, the Gilbert Classical Spartans, the Gilbert San Tan Charter Roadrunners, the Miami Vandals, and the San Carlos Braves.
2A Miami Vandals (2-7 seeding)
The Stella Lopez-coached Miami Vandals (4-10* overall, 2-7 seeding, 0-1 region) has a seeding win over 2A North Region Sanders Valley of 3-1 (25-15, 25-14, 17-25, 25-19) on Sept. 16, and of 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-11) over 1A East Region San Manuel on Sept. 21 along with losses of 0-3 (13-25, 16-25, 9-25) to San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills on Aug. 26, of 0-3 (9-25, 6-25, 16-25) to 2A Central Region Chandler Prep on Aug. 28, of 0-3 (19-25, 6-25, 16-25) to 2A Southeast Region Morenci on Sept. 2, of 0-3 (19-25, 17-25, 16-25) to 1A East Region Duncan on Sept. 4, of 0-3 (10-25, 20-25, 16-25) to Gilbert Arete Prep on Sept. 11, of 0-3 (17-25, 11-25, 16-25) to 2A Central Region Fountain Hills on Sept. 14, and of 2-3 (12-25, 25-20, 11-25, 26-24, 6-15) to 2A Southeast Region Willcox on Sept. 22.
In addition, the Vandals went 2-2 during the Arete Prep tourney on Sept. 12. Miami had wins of 2-0 over 1A West Region Fort Mohave Desert Star and of 2-0 over 1A South Region Nogales Lourdes Catholic as well as losses of 0-2 (12-25, 16-25) to 3A West Region Phoenix Madison Highland Prep and of 0-2 to 1A West Region Wellton Antelope.
The Vandals also fell 0-2 (21-25, 13-25) to Duncan on Sept. 25 during the Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin tourney on Sept. 25-26.
There are 14 Vandals on the varsity roster with six seniors, three juniors, two sophomores, and three freshmen. The seniors are Olivia Chacon (4), Elise Combs (7), Grace Cruz (3), Mirna Flores (9), Autianna Garner (10), and Tamia Pietila (5); juniors Brylee Dho (2), Liliana Light (6), and Tessa Roberts (8); sophomores Danica Valenzuela (1) and Anna Zazueta (11); and freshmen Izabella Arrellin (13), Eliza Soden (12), and Ezra Thompson (14).
Miami is competing in the 7-member 2A East Region with the Chandler Lincoln Prep Lightning, the Gilbert Arete Prep Chargers, the Gilbert Classical Spartans, the Gilbert San Tan Charter Roadrunners, the Globe Tigers, and the San Carlos Braves.
2A Willcox Cowgirls (5-6 seeding)
The Shaye Klump-coached Willcox Cowgirls (8-7 overall, 5-6 seeding, 0-0 region) have seeding wins of 3-1 (23-25, 29-27, 25-21, 25-18) over Morenci on Aug. 26, of 3-1 (25-16, 25-20, 15-25, 25-19) over Pima on Sept. 2, of 3-1 over Bisbee on Sept. 14, of 3-2 (25-12, 20-25, 25-11, 24-26, 15-6) over Miami on Sept. 22, and of 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 31-29) over Globe on Sept. 28 along with losses of 0-3 to Safford on Aug. 31, of 1-3 (16-25, 27-29, 25-20, 24-26) to Tombstone on Sept. 9, of 2-3 to Fort Thomas on Sept. 15, of 0-3 (18-25, 23-25, 17-25) to Benson on Sept. 16, of 1-3 (24-26, 16-26, 25-19, 23-25) to Sierra Vista ALA on Sept. 21, and of 0-3 (19-25, 24-26, 23-25) to Saint David on Sept. 23.
In addition, the Cowgirls finished third in the 2nd Cochise County Round-up on Aug. 29. Willcox went 2-1 in pool play, topping Tombstone 37-26 and Morenci 36-30 as well as falling 29-41 to Sierra Vista American Leadership, and topped Fort Thomas 2-0 (27-25, 25-12) in the bracket.
Willcox has an 11-member roster of four seniors, two juniors, and five sophomores. The seniors are Leslie Barraza (22), Gloria Encinas (8), Lilyana Millenaar (10), and Keely Norris (14); juniors Maley Allred (9) and Karlie Saint Clair (3); and sophomores Grace Flanders (2), Hattie Macumber (1), Camry Thompson (6), Lia Villa (4), and Lilly Williams (17).
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.
2A Southeast Region
The region standings as of Sept. 28 were Pima (8-9 overall, 6-5 seeding, 1-0 region), Benson (11-2, 9-0, 0-0), Sierra Vista American Leadership (14-2, 6-1, 0-0), Willcox (6-9, 4-7, 0-0), Tombstone (9-14, 5-6, 0-1), Morenci (3-9*, 2-6, 0-0), and Bisbee (2-12*, 2-8, 0-0).
Region pairings to date have resulted in a win of 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12) for Pima over Tombstone on Sept. 28.
2A East Region
The region standings as of Sept. 28 were Gilbert San Tan Charter (8-1 seeding, 1-0 region), Gilbert Arete Prep (4-4, 2-0), Globe (7-5, 1-1), Gilbert Classical (8-3, 0-1), Chandler Lincoln Prep (3-5, 0-0), San Carlos (3-9, 0-1), and Miami (2-8, 0-1). Region pairings to date have resulted in wins for San Tan Charter of 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-23) over Gilbert Classical on Sept. 3; Arete Prep of 3-0 (25-10, 25-20, 25-16) over Miami on Sept. 11 and of 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-21) over Globe on Sept. 14; and Globe of 3-2 (15-25, 25-12, 25-19, 24-26, 15-11) over San Carlos on Sept. 23.
