Willcox, Benson bow out in state first round

Cowgirls net nine all-region picks, Bobcats seven

By Raymundo Frasquillo

PHOENIX – The 2A Southeast Region representatives to the state tourney, the No. 20 Willcox Cowgirls (11-6 seeding, 6.2829 rating) and the Benson Bobcats (12-6, 6.9769), were both eliminated during the first round on Nov. 3.

Willcox (26-14 overall) opened the regular season with a 4-set win over Morenci and closed it with a 3-set win over the same opponent, outscoring the Wildcats 102-91 (11 points) and 75-51 (24 points), respectively. It took the Cowgirls five sets to advance from the Play-In Round, with a 19-17 fifth-set score and 106-105 total points. A 3-set first-round loss, with 45-75 total points, ended the season.

Benson (18-11) began its regular season with a 4-set win over Safford and ended with a 3-set win over Bisbee. The individual point totals were 97-86 (11) and 75-29 (46), respectively. The Bobcats went three sets in both the Play-In and first-round pairings. However, the individual point totals were 76-66, or a 10-point margin, and 61-75, or a 14-point deficit.

In head-to-head matchups, a 3-set Benson win and a 5-set Willcox win resulted, but the total points were 187-165, or a 22-point margin for the Bobcats.

Willcox landed nine on the all-region teams, including the Player-of-the-Year and Coach-of-the-Year, while Benson had seven, including the Offensive Player-of-the-Year, as recently announced.

Willcox (9) had junior hitter/middle blocker Karlie Saint Claire (3) and sophomore hitter/middle blocker Hattie Macumber (1) on the first team; sophomore hitter/middle blocker Camry Thompson (6), senior hitter/middle blocker Gloria Encinas (8), sophomore setter Grace Flanders (2), and freshman setter Jaylene Aguirre (12) on the second team; junior libero Maley Allred (9), senior hitter/middle blocker Lilyana Millenaar (10), and sophomore libero Lia Villa (4) received honorable mention; and Macumber was Region Player-of-the-Year and Shaye Klump Region Coach-of-the-Year.

Sierra Vista American Leadership (2) had junior hitter/middle blocker Logan Mazzanti (11) and senior libero Julie Rawlings (3) on the first team.

Pima (9) had sophomore hitter/middle blocker Taylor Ashby (3), sophomore libero Harlee McBiles (2), and senior setter Demi Derrick (5) on the first team; senior hitter/middle blocker Shante Butler (15) and junior hitter/middle blocker Audrey Brimhall (6) on the second team; senior hitter/middle blocker Cheyanne Alder (1), freshman hitter/middle blocker Kaia Butler (12), senior libero Trista Hatch (4), and senior hitter/middle blocker Morgan Russell (9) received honorable mention; and McBiles Region Defensive Player-of-the-Year.

Morenci (7) had sophomore hitter/middle blocker Kendall Merrill (3) on the first team; sophomore hitter/middle blocker Justine Tartaglia (5), freshman hitter/middle blocker Sophia Davis (8), freshman libero Serenity Chavarria (9), and junior setter Ava Basteen (2) on the second team; junior hitter/middle blocker Jayliana Guzzo (1) and junior hitter/middle blocker Taytum Porter (10) received honorable mention.

Benson (7) had sophomore hitter/middle blocker Hazel Chapman (22) and senior setter Halle Hatch (2) on the first team; junior hitter/middle blocker Karris Taylor (23) and senior hitter/middle blocker Alexis Cooper (6) on the second team; senior hitter/middle blocker Raeli Farnsworth (7), sophomore hitter/middle blocker Madison Jones (11), and freshman hitter/middle blocker Hailey Peters (25) received honorable mention; and Chapman was the Region Offensive Player-of-the-Year.

Tombstone (9) had sophomore hitter/middle blocker Zoey Lepisto Zimpelman (5) and senior setter Khloe Convertino-Shaw (10) on the first team; senior hitter/middle blocker McKenzy Nicoll (7), senior hitter/middle blocker Hayden Dobbins (11), and junior libero Arabella Alvarez (9) on the second team; senior hitter/middle blocker Bria Gross (6), junior hitter/middle blocker Jovi Jackson (12), senior libero Isabella Lopez (3), and junior setter Aurora Reid-Winter (2) received honorable mention.

Bisbee (5) had sophomore setter Franki Hernandez (4) on the second team; and junior hitter/middle blocker Itxel Borbon (18), sophomore hitter/middle blocker Alliyah Borquez (5), junior setter Alessandra Coronado (24), and junior libero Karime Valdez Gamez (14) received honorable mention.

2A State Championship (Nov. 14)

The top two teams will meet in the tournament finale at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1826 West McDowell Road, on Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.

Top-ranked Phoenix Country Day School (16-2, 30.8287) versus No. 2 Scottsdale Christian (15-2, 29.5785) in Game 14.

2A State Semifinals (Nov. 12)

The semifinals were at Phoenix Mountain Pointe on Nov. 12.

Top-ranked Phoenix Country Day School (16-2, 30.8287) defeated No. 6 Gilbert San Tan Charter (13-3, 19.6962) 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-15) in Game 13 and No. 2 Scottsdale Christian (15-2, 29.5785) downed No. 5 Phoenix North Valley Christian (15-2, 21.7327) 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-23) in Game 14.

2A State Quarterfinals (Nov. 7)

The quarterfinals had one upset at Goodyear Millennium, a lower seed over a higher seed, in No. 6 Gilbert San Tan Charter (13-3, 19.6962) 3-2 (29-27, 11-25, 25-20, 17-25, 15-13) over No. 3 No. 3 Glendale Prep (17-1, 27.4327) in Game 11.

It was top ranked Phoenix Country Day School (16-2, 30.8287) 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-12) over No. 9 Saint Johns (14-4, 13.2212) in Game 9 and No. 5 Phoenix North Valley Christian (15-2, 21.7327) 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-19) over No. 13 Glendale Trivium Prep (11-5, 10.5551) in Game 10 of the upper bracket.

 The lower bracket had No. 2 Scottsdale Christian (15-2, 29.5785) 3-1 (25-21, 26-28, 25-10, 25-15) over No. 7 Phoenix Horizon Honors (13-4, 18.1083) in Game 12.

2A State First Round (Nov. 7)

The 16-team state tourney first round had two upsets at Goodyear Millennium, a lower seed over a higher seed, in No. 9 Saint Johns (14-4, 13.2212) 3-1 (26-24, 21-25, 25-16, 25-15) over No. 8 Scottsdale Prep (12-5, 15.7124) in Game 2 and No. 13 Glendale Trivium Prep (11-5, 10.5551) 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 25-13, 19-25, 15-13) over No. 4 Chandler Prep (16-3, 24.4368) in Game 4.

It was top ranked Phoenix Country Day School (16-2, 30.8287) 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-15) over No. 16 Willcox (11-6, 6.2829) in Game 1 and No. 5 Phoenix North Valley Christian (15-2, 21.7327) 3-1 (25-16, 25-19, 24-26, 25-15) over No. 12 Mesa North American Leadership (11-6, 10.8153) in Game 3 of the upper bracket.

The lower bracket had No. 3 Glendale Prep (17-1, 27.4327) 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-14) over No. 14 Sierra Vista American Leadership (10-4, 8.2791) in Game 5, No. 6 Gilbert San Tan Charter (13-3, 19.6962) 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-21) over No. 11 Eagar Round Valley (14-4, 12.5486) in Game 6, No. 7 Phoenix Horizon Honors (13-4, 18.1083) 3-0 over No. 10 Gilbert Classical (13-4, 13.2164) in Game 7, and Scottsdale Christian (15-2, 29.5785) 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-22) over No. 17 Benson (12-6, 6.9769) in Game 8.

2A State Play-In Round (Nov. 3)

Two upsets were recorded in the Play-In Round, the lower seed over the higher seed, in No. 20 Willcox (11-6, 6.2829) 3-2 (26-24, 13-25, 25-14, 23-25, 19-17) over No. 13 Camp Verde (12-6, 10.6386) and No. 17 Benson (12-6, 6.9769) 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 26-24) over No. 16 Anthem Prep (11-7, 7.7585).

The six other higher seeds prevailed. It was No. 9 Saint Johns (14-4, 13.2212) 3-0 (25-15, 25-8, 25-11) over No. 24 San Miguel (11-8, minus 11.7114) No. 24, No. 10 Gilbert Classical (13-4, 13.2164) 3-1 (25-13, 25-21, 18-25, 25-19) over No. 23 Tucson Desert Christian (14-5, 0.3719), No. 11 Eagar Round Valley (14-4, 12.5486) 3-2 (25-20, 25-16, 19-25, 23-25, 15-6) over No. 22 Kingman Academy (9-6, 5.9324), No. 12 Mesa North American Leadership (11-6, 10.8153) 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 25-20) over No. 21 Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (7-9, 6.2800), No. 14 Glendale Trivium Prep (11-5, 10.5551) 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-22) over No. 19 Parker (10-7, 6.6791), and No. 15 Sierra Vista American Leadership (10-4, 8.2791) 3-1 (25-14, 18-25, 25-20, 25-6) over No. 18 Mesa Heritage (10-7, 6.7889).

Two teams, No. 23 Pima (9-8, 3.5577) and No. 24 Fountain Hills (7-10, 3.3556) were bumped out by No. 28 Tucson Desert Christian (14-5, 0.3719) and No. 40 Tucson San Miguel (11-8, minus 11.7114) as the top two teams in the 2A South Region. Pima was third of seven in the 2A Southeast Region and Fountain Hills sixth of seven in the 2A Central Region.

2A No. 20 Willcox Cowgirls (11-6 seeding, 6.2829 rating)

The Shaye Klump-coached Willcox Cowgirls (26-14 overall, 11-6 seeding, 6-0 region) had 11 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, of 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 31-29) over Globe on Sept. 28, of 3-1 (26-24, 26-24, 11-25, 25-22) over Sierra Vista American Leadership on Oct. 7, of 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-16, 25-22) over Pima on Oct. 12, of 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-14) over Bisbee on Oct. 19, of 3-2 (25-27, 15-25, 27-25, 25-22, 15-13) over Benson on Oct. 21, and of 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-13) over Morenci on Oct. 26.

The six seeding losses were 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.

The Cowgirls also went 3-6 during the Safford tourney on Oct. 2-3 and 8-0 during the 2-day Joseph City tourney on Oct. 9-10. The wins were of 2-0 over Tombstone, 2-1 over Globe, and of 2-0 over Pima on Oct. 3; 2-0 (25-18, 25-20) over Williams, 2-0 over Utah Monument Valley, 2-0 over Dishchii’Bikoh, and 2-0 over Teec Nos Pos Red Mesa on Oct. 9; 2-0 over Sanders Valley, 2-1 (25-23, 22-25, 15-10) over Joseph City, 2-1 over Holbrook, and 2-1 over Kingman Academy on Oct. 10 while the losses were 0-1 (20-31) to Pima, 0-1 (17-30) to Florence, 0-1 (18-30) to Payson, 0-1 (20-30) to Sierra Vista ALA, 0-1 (16-30) to Phoenix Veritas Prep, and 0-1 (11-30)  to Thatcher on Oct. 2.

Willcox had 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 competed in the 7-member 2A Southeast Region with the Benson Bobcats, Bisbee Pumas, Morenci Wildcats, Pima Roughriders, Sierra Vista American Leadership Guardians, and Tombstone Yellow Jackets.

2A Southeast Region

The region standings as of Oct. 31 were Willcox (25-13 overall, 11-6 seeding, 6-0 region), Sierra Vista American Leadership (23-9, 10-4, 4-2), Pima (15-17, 9-8, 4-2), Morenci (12-22, 7-9, 3-3), Benson (16-10, 12-6, 3-3), Tombstone (14-22, 7-10, 1-5), and Bisbee (4-19*, 3-14, 0-6).

Region pairings to date have resulted in a win of 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12) for Pima of 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12) over Tombstone on Sept. 28, of 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-14, 17-15) over Benson on Oct. 7, of 3-2 (22-25, 30-32, 25-18, 25-12, 15-8) over Morenci on Oct. 21, and of 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-7) over Bisbee on Oct. 23; Sierra Vista ALA of 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-11) over Bisbee on Sept. 30, of 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 27-25) over Tombstone on Oct. 21, of 3-1 over Pima on Oct. 26, and of 3-0 over Morenci on Oct. 28; and Willcox of 3-1 (26-24, 26-24, 11-25, 25-22) over Sierra Vista American Leadership on Oct. 7, of 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-16, 25-22) over Pima on Oct. 12, of 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-14) over Bisbee on Oct. 19, of 3-2 (25-27, 15-25, 27-25, 25-22, 15-13) over Benson on Oct. 21, of 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-13) over Morenci on Oct. 26, and of 3-1 (25-12, 25-14, 22-25, 25-13) over Tombstone on Oct. 28; Morenci of 3-0 (25-16, 28-26, 25-13) over Bisbee on Oct. 12, of 3-2 (7-25, 25-23, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12) over Benson on Oct. 14, and of 3-2 (28-30, 28-26, 25-22, 21-25, 15-6) over Tombstone on Oct. 19; Benson of 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-18) over Tombstone on Oct. 15 and of 3-1 over Sierra Vista ALA on Oct. 19; and Tombstone of 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-21) over Bisbee on Oct. 26.

Rankings for the other 2A Southeast Region members were Morenci (7-9, minus 1.8139) No. 30, Tombstone (7-10, minus 2.2649) No. 31, and Bisbee (3-14, minus 16.5704) No. 44.

The rest of the East Region member rankings were Globe (10-6, minus 0.4584) No. 28, Chandler Lincoln Prep (8-9, 0.8540) No. 27, Gilbert Arete Prep (5-9, minus 7.3956) No. 36, San Carlos (5-13, minus 9.4061) No. 38, and Miami (3-15, minus 17.9737) No. 48.

2A East Region

The region standings as of Oct. 26 were Gilbert San Tan Charter (15-8 overall, 13-3 seeding, 6-0 region), Gilbert Classical (21-6, 13-4, 5-1), Chandler Lincoln Prep (14-12, 8-9, 4-2), Globe (11-15, 10-8, 2-4), San Carlos (10-17*, 5-13, 2-4), Gilbert Arete Prep (8-10, 5-9, 2-4), and Miami (5-19*, 3-15, 0-6).

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, of 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-15) over Globe on Sept. 30, of 3-0 (25-11, 25-23, 25-15) over Miami on Oct. 15, of 3-0 (25-12, 25-8, 25-22) over Lincoln Prep on Oct. 16, of 3-0 over Arete Prep on Oct. 26, and of 3-0 (25-5, 25-15, 25-14) over San Carlos on Oct. 28; 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; Globe of 3-2 (15-25, 25-12, 25-19, 24-26, 15-11) over San Carlos on Sept. 23 and of 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-18) over Miami on Oct. 21; San Carlos of 3-2 (20-25, 27-25, 18-25, 25-19, 15-9) over Arete Prep on Oct. 12 and of 3-0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-10) over Miami on Oct. 13; Gilbert Classical of 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-23) over Lincoln Prep on Oct. 15, of 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-12) over San Carlos on Oct. 21, of 3-1 (22-25, 26-24, 25-14, 25-5) over Globe on Oct. 26, of 3-0 (25-9, 25-12, 25-17) over Arete Prep on Oct. 28, and of 3-0 (25-13, 25-11, 25-11) over Miami on Oct. 29; and Lincoln Prep of 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-23) over San Carlos on Oct. 19, of 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-17) over Arete Prep on Oct. 21, of 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-19) over Miami on Oct. 26, and of 3-1 (25-12, 25-23, 24-26, 25-13) over Globe on Oct. 28.

2A No. 23 PIMA Roughriders (9-8 seeding, 3.5777 rating)

The Ruthie Butler-coached Pima Roughriders (15-17 overall, 9-8 seeding, 4-2 region) had nine 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, of 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12) over Tombstone on Sept. 28, of 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-14, 17-15) over Benson on Oct. 7, of 3-2 (22-25, 30-32, 25-18, 25-12, 15-8) over Morenci on Oct. 21, and of 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-7) over Bisbee on Oct. 23.

The eight seeding losses were 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, of 2-3 (25-22, 17-25, 26-28, 25-22, 8-15) to Sierra Vista ALA on Sept. 14, of 0-3 (25-21, 25-8, 25-20) to Saint David on Sept. 29, and of 1-3 (16-25, 26-24, 16-25, 22-25) to Willcox on Oct. 12.

Additionally, Pima went 2-4 during the 2-day Snowflake tourney on Sept. 18-19 and 4-5 during the Safford tourney on Oct. 2-3. The Roughriders defeated 2A North Region Eagar Round Valley 2-0 on Sept. 18 and 3A North Region Chinle 2-1 on Sept. 19; Willcox 1-0 (31-20), Sierra Vista ALA 1-0 (30-19), and Tombstone 1-0 (30-25) on Oct. 2, and Morenci 2-1 and Tombstone 2-0 on Oct. 3.

The losses were of 1-2 (10-21, 22-20, 4-15) to 6A East Valley Region Mesa Red Mountain and of 0-2 (11-21, 14-21) to 3A Metro Mountain Region Lakeside Blue Ridge on Sept. 18, 0-2 to 2A North Region Saint Johns and 0-2 to 4A Grand Canyon Region Cottonwood Mingus on Sept. 19, of 0-1 (23-30) to 3A Metro Mountain Region Payson, 0-1 (20-28) to 4A East Sky Region San Tan Valley Combs, 0-1 (18-30) to Florence, and 0-1 to Tombstone on Oct. 2, and 0-2 to Willcox on Oct. 3.

The varsity roster included 14 Roughriders: five seniors, four juniors, four sophomores, and a freshman. 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), Ashley Payne (7), and Brielle Taylor (10); sophomores Taylor Ashby (3), Liddy Bingham (14), Tynzli Hatch (11), and Harlee McBiles (2); and freshman Kaia Butler (12).

Pima competed in the 7-member 2A Southeast Region with the Benson Bobcats, Bisbee Pumas, Morenci Wildcats, Sierra Vista American Leadership Guardians, Tombstone Yellow Jackets, and Willcox Cowgirls.

2A No. 30 Morenci Wildcats (7-9 seeding, minus 1.8139 rating)

The Alisha Brewer-coached Morenci Wildcats (12-22 overall, 7-9 seeding, 3-3 region) had seven seeding wins of 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-10) over Miami on Sept. 2, of 3-0 over Bisbee on Sept. 17, of 3-1 (25-16, 25-9, 21-25, 25-12) over San Carlos on Sept. 30, of 3-1 (19-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-20) over 1A East Region Duncan on Oct. 5, of 3-0 (25-16, 28-26, 25-13) over Bisbee on Oct. 12, of 3-2 (7-25, 25-23, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12) over Benson on Oct. 14, and of 3-2 (28-30, 28-26, 25-22, 21-25, 15-6) over Tombstone on Oct. 19.

The nine seeding losses were 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, of 1-3 (8-25, 20-25, 25-19, 20-25) to Tombstone on Sept. 23, of 2-3 (25-22, 32-30, 18-25, 12-25, 8-15) to Pima on Oct. 21, of 0-3 (22-25, 16-25, 13-25) to Willcox on Oct. 26, and of 0-3 to Sierra Vista ALA on Oct. 28.

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 and 1-7 during the 2-day, 13-team Safford tourney on Oct. 2-3. The wins were 2-1 (25-13, 17-25, 15-7) over Bisbee on Aug. 29 and 1-0 (25-24 in OT) over Tombstone on Oct. 3 while the losses were 0-1 (31-34) to Sierra Vista American Leadership, 0-1 (30-36) to Willcox, and 0-1 (29-36) to Tombstone on Aug. 29, 0-1 (24-25) to Sierra Vista ALA, 0-1 (11-30) to Safford, 0-1 (11-30) to Payson, and 0-1 (7-30) to Comb on Oct. 2, and 0-2 to Pima, 0-2 to Globe, and 1-2 (21-19, 20-21, 17-21) to Tombstone on Oct. 3.

The Wildcats also went 3-3 during the 2-day Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin tourney on Sept. 25-26. Two of the losses were 0-2 (17-25, 23-25) to Ganado and 0-2 (11-25, 15-25) to Mesa Gateway Heritage on Sept. 25.

The varsity roster included 12 Wildcats: 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 Mikaela Burke (7), Araceli Cuhen (4), Kendall Merrill (3), and Justine Tartaglia (5); and freshmen Serenity Chavarria (9), Sophia Davis (6), Kloiie Kidd (13), and Jazmin Williamson (12).

Morenci competed in the 7-member 2A Southeast Region with the Benson Bobcats, Bisbee Pumas, Pima Roughriders, Sierra Vista American Leadership Guardians, Tombstone Yellow Jackets, and Willcox Cowgirls.