Season ends for No. 27 Pima, No. 30 Morenci
By Raymundo Frasquillo
STATEWIDE – The season ended for 28 2A volleyball teams, with another eight eliminated during the Play-in Round on Nov. 4. Sixteen teams remain in the hunt for a state title, and 36 teams stay home.
The final area team with a shot was Cochise County’s No. 17 Willcox (13-5 seeding, 5.8992 rating). The Cowgirls began the 2025 season with a 4-set loss to Benson on Aug. 28 and ended with a 4-set loss to No. 16 Kingman Academy (11-6, 6.7981) on Nov. 4.
Two area teams not qualifying for the Top 24 slots were Graham County’s Pima (8-7, minus 0.0367) in No. 27 and Greenlee County’s Morenci (6-9, minus 2.2566) in No. 30. The participants have already inventoried equipment and uniforms and moved on to winter sports.
Willcox ended 18-9 in matches and 52-27 in sets won; Pima 9-13+ in matches and 32-36 in sets won; and Morenci 13-14+ and 41-37 in sets won.
2A State Play-offs, Round 1
The 16-team 2A state tourney first round begins at Tempe Corona del Sol, 1001 East Knox Road and Phoenix Mountain Pointe, 4201 East Knox Road on Saturday, Nov. 8; the quarterfinals at the same sites are on Nov. 8; the semifinals at Mountain Pointe on Nov. 13; and the championship at Arizona Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, 1826 West McDowell Road on Nov. 15.
Upper bracket pairings are No. 1 Scottsdale Christian (16-0 ranking, 24.5299 rating) hosting No. 16 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (7-10, 4.5469) at 10 a.m., No. 8 Benson (16-1, 12.1381) hosting No. 9 Camp Verde (13-5, 12.0822) at noon, No. 5 Phoenix Veritas Prep (14-3, 14.8750) hosting No. 12 Saint Johns (15-3, 10.8702) at 2 p.m., and No. 4 Glendale Trivium Prep (15-2, 17.2906) hosting No. 11 Flagstaff Northland Prep (12-5, 10.2707) at 4 p.m.
The lower bracket has No. 3 Phoenix Country Day School (17-1, 20.2461) hosting No. 14 Tucson Desert Christian (15-2, 8.3148) at 9 a.m., No. 6 Eagar Round Valley (16-1, 14.1062) hosting No. 11 Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (12-5, 11.6704) at 11 a.m., No. 7 Gilbert San Tan Charter (16-1, 14.0558) hosting No. 10 Scottsdale Prep (13-4, 12.0696) at 1 p.m., and No. 2 Phoenix North Valley Christian (17-0, 20.2461) hosting No. 15 Tempe Prep (12-6, 7.5147) at 3 p.m.
2A State Play-in Round (Nov. 4)
There was a lone upset during the Play-in Round, No. 19 over No. 4.
The Play-in Round had the Top Nos. 9-24 teams playing on Nov. 4, with higher seeds as hosts. It was No. 9 Camp Verde (13-5, 12.0822) 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-21) over No. 24 Phoenix Horizon Honors (6-11, 1.8332), No. 10 Scottsdale Prep (13-4, 12.0696) 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-18) over No. 23 Sanders Valley (11-6, 2.4227), No. 11 Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (12-5, 11.6704) 3-0 (25-6, 25-21, 25-16) over No. 22 Glendale Prep (7-10, 3.9180), and No. 12 Saint Johns (15-3, 10.8702) 3-0 (25-11, 26-24, 25-8) over No. 21 Chandler Prep (9-8, 4.0233).
Additionally, No. 13 Flagstaff Northland Prep (12-5, 10.2707) defeated No. 20 Gilbert Classical (13-5, 4.3636) 3-1 (25-10, 25-10, 23-25, 25-16), No. 19 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (7-10, 4.5469) upset No. 14 Tucson Desert Christian (15-2, 8.3148) 3-1 (25-15, 25-23, 5-25, 25-22), No. 15 Tempe Prep (12-6, 7.5147) blanked No. 18 Fountain Hills (9-9, 5.7204) 3-0 (25-15, 27-25, 25-18), and No. 16 Kingman Academy (11-4, 6.7981) defeated No. 17 Willcox (13-5, 5.8992) 3-1.
The winners meet the Top 8 in the first round at Tempe Corona del Sol, 1001 East Knox Road and Phoenix Mountain Pointe, 4201 East Knox Road on Saturday, Nov. 8; the quarterfinals at the same sites are on Nov. 8; the semifinals at Mountain Pointe on Nov. 13; and the championship at Arizona Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, 1826 West McDowell Road on Nov. 15.
2A No. 17 WILLCOX Cowgirls (5.8992 rating)
Willcox (18-8 overall, 13-5 seeding, 6-2 2A East Region for third of nine) played 18 seeding matches, with wins of 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-14) over 2A South Region Pima on Sept. 9, 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-19) over Tombstone on Sept. 12, 3-1 (16-25, 30-28, 25-21, 25-24) over 1A South Region Saint David on Sept. 16, 3-0 over 2A East Region San Carlos on Sept. 17, 3-1 over Morenci on Sept. 18, 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-10) over Saint Augustine on Sept. 25, 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-11) over San Miguel on Oct. 1, 3-1 (25-5, 25-27, 25-22, 25-7) over 1A South Region Duncan on Oct. 6, 3-0 (25-8, 25-22, 25-19) over Morenci on Oct. 7, 3-0 (25-3, 25-5, 25-15) over 2A East Region Miami on Oct. 9, 3-0 (25-4, 25-16, 25-14) over Tombstone on Oct. 14, 3-0 (25-9, 25-12, 25-10) over Santa Rita on Oct. 22, and 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-12) over Bisbee on Oct. 30. The losses were 1-3 (9-25, 25-19, 16-25, 22-25) to Benson on Aug.28, 0-3 (17-25, 13-25, 18-25) to 4A Gila Region Sahuarita on Sept. 2, 0-3 to 2A North Region Eagar Round Valley on Sept. 27, and 2-3 (12-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 10-15) to Benson on Sept. 29, and 0-3 (22-25, 17-25, 21-25) to Desert Christian on Oct. 22.
The Shaye Klump-coached Cowgirls also went 3-1 during their own tourney on Aug. 30 and 2-2 during the 2-day Joseph City tourney on Oct. 10-11.
Willcox competed in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, , the Morenci Wildcats, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets and Tucson schools the Desert Christian Eagles, the Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, the San Miguel Catholic Vipers, and the Santa Rita Eagles.
2A No. 27 PIMA Roughriders (minus 0.0367 rating)
Pima (9-13+ overall, 8-7 seeding, 4-4 region) played 15 ranking matches, with wins of 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-19) over 1A East Region Duncan on Aug. 27, 3-0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-15) over 1A East Region Fort Thomas on Aug. 28, 3-1 (25-18m 25-26, 18-25, 25-22) over 2A South Region Morenci on Sept. 4, 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-7) over 3A Central Region Globe on Sept. 12, 3-0 over Arete Prep on Sept. 23, 3-0 over Leading Edge on Sept. 24, 3-0 over Miami on Oct. 21, and 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 19-25, 25-21, 15-11) over San Carlos on Oct. 23. The losses were 0-3 (19-25, 14-25, 27-29) to 2A East Region Benson on Sept. 2, 0-3 (25-20, 26-24, 25-14) to 2A East Region Willcox on Sept. 9, 1-3 (13-25, 23-25, 25-18, 17-25) to Chandler Prep on Sept. 18, 1-3 (19-25, 25-20, 20-25, 22-25) to 1A South Region Saint David on Sept. 30, 0-3 (12-25, 10-25, 11-25) to Gilbert Classical on Oct. 10, 2-3 to Lincoln Prep on Oct. 22, and 0-3 (13-25, 22-25, 14-25) to San Tan Charter on Oct. 29.
The Ruthie Butler-coached Roughriders also went 0-2+ during the Horizon Honors tourney on Sept. 6 and 1-4 during the 2-day Snowflake tourney on Sept. 19-20.
Pima had a 14-member roster with seven seniors, three juniors, and four freshmen. The seniors are Tatum Brinkerhoff (11), Demi Derrick (5), Paige DeRusha (22), Maddi Dwyer (1), Brynn Kartchner (18), Grace Napier (6), and Maisy Strowd (7); juniors Shante Butler (10), Trista Hatch (8), and Morgan Russell (9); and freshmen Taylor Ashby (3), Liddy Bingham (21), Audrey Brimhall (16), and Tynzil Hatch (17).
The Roughriders competed in the 9-member 2A East Region with the Chandler Lincoln Prep Lightning, the Chandler Prep Titans, the Gilbert Arete Prep Chargers, the Gilbert Leading Edge Spartans, the Gilbert Classical Spartans, the Gilbert San Tan Charter Roadrunners, the Miami Vandals, and the San Carlos Braves.
2A No. 30 MORENCI Wildcats (minus 2.2566 rating)
Morenci (13-14+ overall, 6-9 ranking, 3-4 region) played 15 ranking matches, with wins of 3-0 (25-8, 25-14, 25-18) over Miami on Sept. 8, 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-16) over San Carlos on Sept. 10, 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-20) over Saint Augustine Catholic on Oct. 1, 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19) over Bisbee on Oct. 14, 3-0 (25-11, 25-7, 25-10) over San Miguel on Oct. 20, and 3-1 (25-16, 25-27, 25-21, 25-20) over Duncan on Oct. 27 along with losses of 0-3 (19-25, 23-25, 13-25) to Eagar Round Valley on Aug.28, 1-3 (18-25, 16-25, 25-18, 22-25) to Pima on Sept. 4, 0-3 (21-25, 12-25, 6-25) to New Mexico Silver on Sept. 16, 1-3 (22-25, 25-18, 16-25, 14-25) to Willcox on Sept. 18, 1-3 (17-25, 25-19, 21-25, 22-25) to Tombstone on Sept. 29, 2-3 (28-26, 22-25, 24-26, 11-25, 8-15) to Silver on Sept. 30, 0-3 (8-25, 22-25, 19-25) to Willcox on Oct. 7, 1-3 (19-25, 12-25, 25-21, 22-25) to Desert Christian on Oct. 16, and 0-3 (16-25, 18-25, 24-26) to Benson on Oct. 22.
The Jasmine Aguinaga-coached Wildcats also went 4-0 during the Cochise County Round-up on Aug. 30, 2-3 during the 2-day Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin tourney on Sept. 19-20, and 1-2+ during the 2-day Florence tourney on Oct. 10-11.
Morenci had a 12-member roster with seniors Madilynn Clark (4), Keirah Fernandez (11), and Rozlyn Funari (10); juniors Leayla Mendez-Garcia (7) and Kaylee Wiggins (6); sophomores Ava Basteen (1), Jayliana Guzzo (1), Khloee Kouts (9), and Taytum Porter (8); and freshmen Justine Aguinaga (5), Araceli Cuhen (12), and Kendall Merrill (3).
The Wildcats competed in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, the Willcox Cowgirls, and Tucson schools the Desert Christian Eagles, the Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, the San Miguel Catholic Vipers, and the Santa Rita Eagles.
2A State Final Rankings
State rankings for the Top 9-24 Class 2A teams as of 2 p.m. on Nov. 1 were Camp Verde (13-5, 12.0822) No. 9, Scottsdale Prep (13-4, 12.0696) No. 10, Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (12-5, 11.6704) No. 11, Saint Johns (15-3, 10.8702) No. 12, Flagstaff Northland Prep (12-5, 10.2707) No. 13, Tucson Desert Christian (15-2, 8.3148) No. 14, Tempe Prep (12-6, 7.5147) No. 15, and Kingman Academy (11-4, 6.7981) No. 16.
Willcox (13-5, 5.8992) was No. 17, Fountain Hills (9-9, 5.7204) No. 18, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (7-10, 4.5469) No. 19, Gilbert Classical (13-5, 4.3636) No. 20, Chandler Prep (9-8, 4.0233) No. 21, Glendale Prep (7-10, 3.9180) No. 22, Sanders Valley (11-6, 2.4227) No. 23, and Phoenix Horizon Honors (6-11, 1.8332) No. 24,
The Top 8 of Class 2A’s 52 teams released in order on Nov. 5 were Scottsdale Christian (16-0 ranking, 24.5299 rating) No. 1, Phoenix North Valley Christian (17-0, 20.2461) No. 2, Phoenix Country Day School (17-1, 20.2461) No. 3, Glendale Trivium Prep (15-2, 17.2906) No. 4, Phoenix Veritas Prep (14-3, 14.8750) No. 5, Eagar Round Valley (16-1, 14.1062) No. 6, Gilbert San Tan Charter (16-1, 14.0558) No. 7, and Benson (16-1, 12.1381) No. 8.
2A South Region Final Standings
Region member final standings as of Oct. 31 were Benson (19-7 overall, 16-1 ranking, 8-0 region), Tucson Desert Christian (25-8, 15-2, 7-1), Willcox (18-8, 13-5, 6-2), Tombstone (13-14, 10-8, 5-3), Morenci 13-14+, 6-9, 3-4), Bisbee (10-18, 7-11, 3-5), Tucson San Miguel Catholic (3-23-1, 3-15, 2-6), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (4-14, 4-14, 1-7), and Tucson Santa Rita (0-16, 0-16, 0-7).
During 35 region pairings, it was Benson 3-2 (25-12, 25-22, 23-25, 21-25, 15-10) over Willcox on Sept. 29, 3-0 (25-5, 25-10, 25-10) over Santa Rita on Oct. 1, 3-1 (26-24, 19-25, 25-21, 25-21) over Desert Christian on Oct. 7, 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-17) over Saint Augustine on Oct. 14, 3-0 (25-9, 25-18, 25-15) over Bisbee on Oct. 21, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 26-24) over Morenci on Oct. 22, 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-22) over Tombstone on Oct. 24, and 3-0 (25-5, 25-10, 25-11) over San Miguel on Oct. 27:
Desert Christian 3-0 (25-12, 25-9, 25-10) over San Miguel on Sept. 16, 3-0 (25-18, 26-24, 25-16) over Tombstone on Sept. 25, 3-0 (25-6, 25-3, 25-2) over Santa Rita on Oct. 14, 3-1 (25-19, 25-12, 21-25, 25-22) over Morenci on Oct. 16, 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-13) over Saint Augustine on Oct. 20, 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-21) over Willcox on Oct. 22, and 3-0 (25-16, 25-10, 25-14) over Bisbee on Oct. 28;
Willcox 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-10) over Saint Augustine on Sept. 25, 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-11) on Oct. 1, 3-0 (25-8, 25-22, 25-19) over Morenci on Oct. 7, 3-0 (25-4, 25-16, 25-14) over Tombstone on Oct. 14, 3-0 (25-9, 25-12, 25-10) over Santa Rita on Oct. 27, and 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-12) over Bisbee on Oct. 30; Tombstone 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-21, 25-22) over Morenci on Sept. 29, 3-0 (25-22, 25-22,25- 19) over Bisbee on Oct. 7, 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-3) over San Miguel on Oct. 16, 3-0 (25-9, 25-6, 25-7) over Santa Rita on Oct. 20, and 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-15) over Saint Augustine on Oct. 27;
Morenci 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-20) over Saint Augustine on Oct. 1, 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19) over Bisbee on Oct. 14, and 3-0 (25-11, 25-7, 25-12) over San Miguel on Oct. 20; Bisbee 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-11) over San Miguel on Sept. 29, 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-13) over Santa Rita on Oct. 22, and 3-1 (18-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-13) over Saint Augustine on Oct. 24;
San Miguel 3-1 (25-21, 27-25, 19-25, 25-14) over Saint Augustine on Sept. 11 and 3-1 (25-13, 25-12, 17-25, 25-14) over Santa Rita on Sept. 25; and Saint Augustine 3-0 (25-4, 25-6, 25-11) over Santa Rita on Oct. 16.
Tourney results (accounting for overall records) were Benson ending 2-3 during the San Tan Valley Combs tourney on Sept. 12-13 and 1-3 during the 2-day Florence tourney on Oct. 10-11; Desert Christian ending 3-1 during the Phoenix Horizon Honors tourney on Sept. 6, 5-3 during the 2-day Ash Fork tourney on Sept. 12-13, and 4-2 during the 2-day Tucson Amphitheater tourney on Oct. 10-11;
Willcox ending 3-1 during its own tourney on Aug. 30 and 2-2 during the 2-day Joseph City tourney on Oct. 10-11; Tombstone ending 2-2 during the Willcox tourney and 1-5 during the Amphitheater tourney; Morenci ending 4-0 during the Willcox tourney, 2-3 during the Benjamin Franklin tourney, and 1-2+ during the Florence tourney;
Bisbee ending 2-3 during the Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin tourney on Sept. 19-20 and 1-4 during the Amphitheater tourney; San Miguel ending 0-4 during the Willcox tourney and 0-4-1 during the Combs tourney; and both Saint Augustine and Santa Rita did not schedule a tourney.
2A East Region Final Standings
Region member final standings as of Oct. 31 were Gilbert San Tan Charter (20-1 overall, 16-1 ranking, 8-0 region), Chandler Prep (13-16, 9-8, 7-1), Gilbert Classical (16-7, 13-5, 6-2), Pima (9-13+, 8-7, 4-4), Gilbert Arete Prep (11-14, 8-9, 4-4), San Carlos (11-8+, 9-8, 3-5), Chandler Lincoln Prep (6-17+, 5-14, 3-5), Gilbert Leading Edge (2-15+, 1-13, 0-7), and Miami (1-16+, 1-16, 0-7).
During 35 region pairings, it was San Tan Charter 3-0 (25-7, 25-11, 25-21) over San Carlos on Sept. 23, 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-12) over Chandler Prep on Sept. 25, 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-22) over Arete Prep on Oct. 14, 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-14) over Leading Edge on Oct. 15, 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-20) over Miami on Oct. 20, 3-1 (25-12, 25-18, 21-25, 25-21) over Gilbert Classical on Oct. 22, 3-0 over Lincoln Prep on Oct. 27, and 3-0 (25-13, 25-22, 25-14) over Pima on Oct. 29;
Chandler Prep 3-1 (25-13, 25-23, 18-25, 25-17) over Pima on Sept. 18, 3-0 (25-3, 25-5, 25-10) over Miami on Sept. 23, 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-10) over San Carlos on Oct. 14, 3-0 (25-9, 25-20, 25-15) over Arete Prep on Oct. 22, 3-0 (25-3, 25-8, 25-11) over Leading Edge on Oct. 24, 3-1 (25-15, 25-17, 18-25, 25-21) over Gilbert Classical on Oct. 27, and Chandler Prep 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-16) over Lincoln Prep on Oct. 29;
Gilbert Classical 3-0 (25-12, 27-25, 25-17) over San Carlos on Sept. 12, 3-0 (25-14,25- 7,25-17) over Lincoln Prep on Sept. 23, 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-11) Pima on Oct. 10, 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-14) over Miami on Oct. 15, 3-1 (21-25, 25-13, 25-22, 25-18) over Arete Prep on Oct. 17, and Gilbert Classical 3-0 (25-9, 25-8, 25-11) over Leading Edge on Oct. 29; Pima 3-0 over Arete Prep on Sept. 23, 3-0 over Leading Edge on Sept. 25, 3-0 over Miami on Oct. 21, and 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 19-25, 25-21, 15-11) over San Carlos on Oct. 23;
Arete Prep 3-0 over San Carlos on Sept. 18, 3-2 over Lincoln Prep on Oct. 24, 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 17-25, 25-19) over Miami on Oct. 27, and Arete Prep 3-0 (25-9, 25-9, 25-23) over Miami on Oct. 29; San Carlos 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-11) over Lincoln Prep on Oct. 16, 3-0 over Leading Edge on Oct. 22, and 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 17-25, 25-19) over Miami on Oct. 27; and Lincoln Prep 3-0 (27-25, 25-18, 25-12) over Leading Edge on Sept. 11, 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-16) over Miami on Sept. 25, and 3-2 over Pima on Oct. 22;
Tourney results (accounting for overall records) were San Tan Charter ended 4-0 during the Horizon Honors tourney; Gilbert Classical ended 3-2 during the Benjamin Franklin tourney; Chandler Prep ended 1-6 during the 2-day Payson tourney on Aug. 29-30 and 3-3 during the Florence tourney on Oct. 10-11; Pima ended 0-2+ during the Horizon Honors tourney and 1-4 during the 2-day Snowflake tourney on Sept. 19-20;
Arete Prep ended 0-3 during the Combs tourney; San Carlos attended the Benjamin Franklin tourney and ended 1-0+ during the 3-day New Mexico Reho Christian tourney on Sept. 25-27; Lincoln Prep ended 1-0+ during the Horizon Honors tourney and 0-3+ during the Benjamin Franklin tourney; and Leading Edge attended the Benjamin Franklin tourney.
