Bearcats, Apaches visit Duncan this week

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Cicero Prep senior Marin Fitzgerald (11) slaps the hands of Duncan players during introductions. The Centurions left Greenlee County with a 3-set region win on Sept. 26, Duncan hosts Kearny Ray on Tuesday, Oct. 1 and Fort Thomas on Thursday, Oct. 3.

By Raymundo Frasquillo

DUNCAN – The Kassi Mortensen-coached Duncan Wildkats hosts a pair of region matches this week. Their guests will be the Kearny Ray Bearcats on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and the Fort Thomas Apaches on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Also slated this week (Sept. 30 – Oct. 5) for East Region members, Cicero Prep visits Valley Lutheran, Fort Thomas hosts Dischii’bikoh, and San Manuel hosts Hayden on Oct. 1; Superior hosts Miami on Wednesday, Oct. 2; Cicero Prep visits Ray, Superior visits Hayden, and Valley Lutheran hosts San Manuel on Oct. 3.

Kearny Ray Bearcats (4-6, 0-0)

Ray (4-6 seeding, 0-0 region) is 15-18 in seeding sets played. The Bearcats have seeding match wins of 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-20) over Dishchii’bikoh (Aug. 29), 3-2 (15-25, 25-20, 25-15, 17-25, 15-12) over San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (Sept. 5), 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-20) over San Manuel (Sept. 17), and 3-1 over Hayden (Sept. 19).

The losses are 0-3 to Globe (Sept. 3), 1-3 (25-23, 12-25, 18-25, 20-25) to Duncan (Sept. 10), 0-3 (16-25, 13-25, 5-25) to Heber Mogollon (Sept. 12), 0-3 (22-25, 22-25, 19-25) to San Simon (Sept. 23), 1-3 (12-25, 25-21, 12-25, 22-25) to Glendale Desert Heights Prep (Sept. 24), and 1-3 (13-25, 25-19, 18-25, 22-25) to Superior (Sept. 25).

Fort Thomas Apaches (6-2, 1-1)

Fort Thomas (4-3 seeding, 1-0 region) Fort Thomas (6-2, 1-1) is 19-9 in seeding sets played. The Apaches have match wins of 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-15) over San Carlos (Sept. 3), 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 14-25, 25-15) over Valley Lutheran (Sept. 5), 3-1 (25-13, 14-25, 25-16, 25-13) over Superior (Sept. 10), 3-1 (25-8, 20-25, 25-20, 25-14) over San Manuel (Sept. 12), 3-0 over Duncan (Sept. 17), and 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-22) over Hayden (Sept. 24).

The losses are 1-3 to Pima (Sept. 11) and 0-3 (25-27, 8-25, 13-25) over Fort Thomas (Sept. 19).

Duncan Wildkats (4-5, 1-1)

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Area official Billy Sanchez signals a serve to resume play.

Duncan (6-7 overall, 4-5 seeding, 1-1 region) is 13-17 in seeding sets played. The Wildkats have seeding match wins of 3-0 (25-23, 25-10, 25-10) over San Manuel (Sept. 5), 3-1 (23-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-20) over Kearny Ray (Sept. 10), 3-1 (25-20, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18) over Elfrida Valley Union (Sept. 12), and 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-19) over Valley Lutheran (Sept. 14).

The losses are 0-3 (11-25, 19-25, 20-25) to Pima (Aug. 28), 0-3 (15-25, 11-25, 23-25) to San Simon (Sept. 5), 0-3 (12-25, 17-25, 21-25) to Fort Thomas (Sept. 17), 1-3 (23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 21-25) to Superior (Sept. 24), and 0-3 (16-25, 13-25, 9-25) to Cicero Prep (Sept. 26).

Additionally, the Wildkats went 2-2 during the Phoenix Horizon Honors Tourney on Sept. 7. Duncan fell 1-2 to Chandler Lincoln Prep, defeated Glendale Prep 2-0 and Eagar Round Valley 2-1 (25-23, 15-25, 16-14), and fell 0-2 to Ash Fork (17-25, 20-25). Duncan was 5-6 in sets played.

1A East Region

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Duncan junior Brendy Paz (2) sets the ball up for a teammate.

Region standings following five weeks of competition are Scottsdale Cicero Prep (7-3 seeding, 2-0 region), Fort Thomas (6-2, 1-1), Duncan (4-5, 1-1), Superior (4-2, 0-0), Phoenix Valley Lutheran (3-2, 0-1), Kearny Ray (4-6, 0-0), San Manuel (1-5, 0-0), and Winkelman Hayden (1-8, 0-1).

Cicero Prep (7-3, 2-0) is 23-11 in seeding sets played. The Centurions have seeding match wins of 3-0 (25-9, 26-24, 25-13) over Chandler Lincoln Prep (Aug. 28), 3-1 (25-16, 20-25, 25-8, 25-11) over Salome (Aug. 30), 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-19) over Anthem Prep (Sept. 6), 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-9) over Joseph City (Sept. 14), 3-0 (27-25, 25-8, 25-13) over Fort Thomas (Sept. 19), 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-9) over Duncan (Sept. 26), and 3-1 (25-18, 25-15, 24-26, 25-21) over North Phoenix Prep (Sept. 27). The losses are 0-3 (19-25, 22-25, 20-25) to Phoenix Veritas Prep (Sept. 3), 2-3 (21-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-18, 9-15) to Phoenix Horizon Honors (Sept. 9), and 0-3 (13-25, 24-26, 23-25) to Phoenix Country Day (Sept. 11).

Fort Thomas (6-2, 1-1) is 19-9 in seeding sets played. The Apaches have seeding match wins of 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-15) over San Carlos (Sept. 3), 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 14-25, 25-15) over Valley Lutheran (Sept. 5), 3-1 (25-13, 14-25, 25-16, 25-13) over Superior (Sept. 10), 3-1 (25-8, 20-25, 25-20, 25-14) over San Manuel (Sept. 12), 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-21) over Duncan (Sept. 17), and 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-22) over Hayden (Sept. 24). The losses are 1-3 to Pima (Sept. 11) and 0-3 (25-27, 8-25, 13-25) to Cicero Prep (Sept. 19).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Senior defensive specialist Elizabeth Basteen (1) leaps up to block a hit by Cicero Prep opposite-side hitter Nicole Damion (15).

Duncan (4-5, 1-1) is 13-17 in seeding sets played. The Wildkats have seeding match wins of 3-0 (25-23, 25-10, 25-10) over San Manuel (Sept. 5), 3-1 (23-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-20) over Kearny Ray (Sept. 10), 3-1 (25-20, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18) over Elfrida Valley Union (Sept. 12), and 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-19) over Valley Lutheran (Sept. 14). The losses are 0-3 (11-25, 19-25, 20-25) to Pima (Aug. 28), 0-3 (15-25, 11-25, 23-25) to San Simon (Sept. 5), 0-3 (12-25, 17-25, 21-25) to Fort Thomas (Sept. 17), 1-3 (23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 21-25) to Superior (Sept. 24), and 0-3 (16-25, 13-25, 9-25) to Cicero Prep (Sept. 26).

Superior (4-2, 0-0) is 12-10 in seeding sets played. The Panthers have match wins of 3-1 (25-12, 20-25, 25-11, 25-23) over Hayden (Sept. 12), 2-1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-18) over San Manuel (Sept. 19), 3-1 (25-23, 25-23, 17-25, 25-21) over Duncan (Sept. 24), and 3-1 (25-13, 19-25, 25-18, 25-22) over Ray (Sept. 26). The losses are 1-3 (13-25, 25-14, 16-25, 13-25) to Fort Thomas (Sept. 10) and 0-3 (21-25, 12-25, 25-27) to Valley Lutheran (Sept. 17).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Sofia Harris (6) drills the ball over the outstretched hands of Cicero Prep sophomores Kathryn Harrigan (14) and Nicole Damion (15). The Duncan sophomores’ act was noted by match official Billy Sanchez, far right.

Valley Lutheran (3-2, 0-1) is 10-6 in seeding sets played. The Flames have seeding match wins of 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 27-25) over Superior (Sept. 17), 3-0 over Hayden (Sept. 23), and 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-15) over Phoenix NFL Yet (Sept. 25). The losses are 1-3 (22-25, 21-25, 25-14, 15-25) to Fort Thomas (Sept. 5) and 0-3 (17-25, 12-25, 19-25) to Duncan (Sept. 14).

Ray (4-6, 0-0) is 15-18 in seeding sets played. The Bearcats have seeding match wins of 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-20) over Dishchii’bikoh (Aug. 29), 3-2 (15-25, 25-20, 25-15, 17-25, 15-12) over San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (Sept. 5), 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-20) over San Manuel (Sept. 17), and 3-1 over Hayden (Sept. 19). The losses are 0-3 to Globe (Sept. 3), 1-3 (25-23, 12-25, 18-25, 20-25) to Duncan (Sept. 10), 0-3 (16-25, 13-25, 5-25) to Heber Mogollon (Sept. 12), 0-3 (22-25, 22-25, 19-25) to San Simon (Sept. 23), 1-3 (12-25, 25-21, 12-25, 22-25) to Glendale Desert Heights Prep (Sept. 24), and 1-3 (13-25, 25-19, 18-25, 22-25) to Superior (Sept. 25).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Sophomore Lily Ford (11) enters for junior Karleight Capel (5) and senior McKenzie Babers (7) for sophomore Sofia Harris (6). The double Duncan substitution was recorded by match official Troy Thygerson.

San Manuel (1-5, 0-0) is 5-15 in seeding sets played. The Miners have a 3-1 (25-21, 25-11, 16-25, 25-16) win over Tucson’s Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind (Sept. 10). The losses are 0-3 (13-25, 18-25, 14-25) to Patagonia (Sept. 4), 0-3 (23-25, 10-25, 10-25) to Duncan (Sept. 5), 1-3 (8-25, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25) to Fort Thomas (Sept. 12), 0-3 (19-25, 21-25, 20-25) to Ray (Sept. 17), and 1-2 (15-25, 25-22, 18-25) to Superior (Sept. 19).

Hayden (1-8, 0-1) is 7-27 in seeding sets played. The Lobos have a 3-0 win over Miami (Sept. 10). The losses are 0-3 to Dishchii’bikoh (Aug. 28), 2-3 to Bagdad (Sept.6), 0-3 (13-25, 12-25, 14-25) to Patagonia (Sept. 7), 1-3 (12-25, 25-20, 11-25, 23-25) to Superior (Sept. 12), 0-3 (18-25, 14-25, 16-25) to Dishchii’bikoh (Sept. 17), 1-3 to Ray (Sept. 19), 0-3 to Valley Lutheran (Sept. 23), and 0-3 (17-25, 17-25, 22-25) to Fort Thomas (Sept. 24).