Thatcher Netters host Empire on Tuesday
By Raymundo Frasquillo
SAFFORD – The Makenna Farr-coached Safford Bulldogs (6-7-2 overall) host Tucson schools, Sabino (2-10) on Monday, Sept. 21, and Tanque Verde (18-6) on Thursday, Sept. 24, both with 6 p.m. starts.
Next door, Thatcher (8-5) hosts Empire (7-9) on Wednesday, Sept. 23, for a 6 p.m. start.
The Graham County teams also both have Tucson road matches, Thatcher at Palo Verde Magnet on Sept. 21 and Safford at Pusch Ridge Christian on Sept. 23.
Also this week (Sept. 21-26) for 3A South Region members, Vail Empire visits Tucson Andrada Polytechnic and Tucson Tanque Verde hosts Tucson Amphitheater on Sept. 21; Andrada Polytechnic visits Tucson Palo Verde Magnet on Tuesday, Sept. 22; Tucson Amphitheater visits 2A South Region Tucson Desert Christian on Sept. 23; Empire hosts Palo Verde Magnet and Pusch Ridge visits Sabino on Thursday, Sept. 24; and Andrada Polytechnic and Sabino will both be attending the 2-day, 11-team Tucson Flowing Wells tourney and Pusch Ridge will be attending the 2-day, 104 team Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin tourney on Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26.
Sabino Sabercats (1-7 seeding)
The Heather Moore-Martin-coached Sabino Sabercats (2-11 overall, 1-7 seeding, 0-3 region) has a seeding win over 2A South Region Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic of 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-5) on Aug. 31 as well as losses to Thatcher of 0-3 (12-25, 6-25, 13-25), to 3A West Region Tonopah Valley of 2-3 (21-25, 16-25, 26-24, 25-22, 13-15) on Sept. 1, to 3A East Region Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood of 0-3 (10-25, 8-25, 11-25), to Andrada Polytechnic of 0-3 (18-25, 16-25, 11-25) on Sept. 10, to Tanque Verde of 0-3 (3-25, 10-25, 7-25) on Sept. 14, to 3A East Region Florence of 0-3 (12-25, 12-25, 17-25) on Sept. 15, and to Empire of 0-3 (22-25, 21-25, 11-25) on Sept. 15.
The Heather Moore-Martin-coached Sabino Sabercats (2-11 overall, 1-7 seeding, 0-3 region) has a seeding win over 2A South Region Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic of 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-5) on Aug. 31 as well as losses to Thatcher of 0-3 (12-25, 6-25, 13-25), to 3A West Region Tonopah Valley of 2-3 (21-25, 16-25, 26-24, 25-22, 13-15) on Sept. 1, to 3A East Region Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood of 0-3 (10-25, 8-25, 11-25), to Andrada Polytechnic of 0-3 (18-25, 16-25, 11-25) on Sept. 10, to Tanque Verde of 0-3 (3-25, 10-25, 7-25) on Sept. 14, to 3A East Region Florence of 0-3 (12-25, 12-25, 17-25) on Sept. 15, and to Empire of 0-3 (22-25, 21-25, 11-25) on Sept. 15.
In addition, the Sabercats went 1-4 during The Gregory School tourney on Aug. 28. The win was in three sets over Tucson’s The Gregory School (15-25, 25-23, 16-14) while the losses were to The Gregory School of 0-2 (21-25, 20-25), to Empire of 0-2 (19-25, 17-25), to Nogales of 0-2 (8-25, 11-25), and to Sierra Vista Buena of 0-2 (7-25, 7-25) on Aug. 28.
Sabino lists a 12-member roster of three seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, and three freshmen. The seniors are Ava Carey (7), Vivian Guerrero (2), and Aubrey Reyes (10); juniors Taylor Campbell (6), Lexi Hess (5), Valeria Portugal (1), and Esabella Urbina (17); sophomores Jordyn Beckwith (4) and Dena Feeney (3); and freshmen Chraly Draper (9), Paisley Reusch (8), and Sa’Briya Vega (14).
The Sabercats are competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs, 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, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
Tanque Verde Hawks (5-2 seeding)
The Adam Shingler-coached Tanque Verde Hawks (18-6 overall, 5-2 seeding, 0-0 region) have seeding wins over 3A West Region Tonopah Valley of 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-6) on Sept. 3, over 3A West Region Surprise Highland Prep of 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-5) on Sept. 8, over 5A Southern Region Vail Cienega of 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-22) on Sept. 9, over Sabino of 3-0 (25-3, 25-10, 25-7) on Sept. 14, and over Pusch Ridge of 3-2 (12-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15, 15-10) on Sept. 16 along with losses to 5A Sonoran Region Tucson Salpointe Catholic of 0-3 (21-25, 16-25, 21-25) on Aug. 27, to 3A Metro Mountain Region Lakeside Blue Ridge of 2-3 (16-25, 26-24, 23-25, 25-21, 13-15) on Sept. 12.
Additionally, the Hawks went 7-1 during the Pueblo tourney on Aug. 28-29 and 6-3 during the 2-day Salpointe tourney on Sept. 18-19.
Tanque Verde had wins over Palo Verde Magnet of 2-0 (25-7, 25-6), over 5A Sonoran Region Tucson Rincon/University of 2-0 (25-18, 25-18), and over 4A Kino Region Tucson Sahuaro of 2-1 (21-25, 25-16, 16-14) on Aug. 28; over 5A Sonoran Region Tucson Cholla of 2-0 (25-8, 25-4), 3A East Region Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood of 2-0 (25-12, 25-21), and over 4A Kino Region Sahuarita of 2-0 (25-18, 25-22) on Aug. 29; 5A Desert West Region Paradise Valley of 2-0 (30-10), over 6A East Valley Region Tucson Magnet of 2-0 (25-8, 25-15), and over 5A Sonoran Region Salpointe of 2-1 (15-25, 25-18, 15-13) on Sept. 18, over Paradise Valley of 2-0 (25-13, 25-19) and over 5A Sonoran Region Tucson Catalina Foothills of 2-0 (25-23, 25-18), and Catalina Foothills of 2-0 (25-23, 25-21) on Sept. 19.
The losses were 1-2 to 5A Southern Region Sierra Vista Buena (23-25, 25-20, 13-15) on Aug. 29 and to 5A Sonoran Region Tucson Canyon del Oro (20-25, 25-22, 3-15), 6A Premier Region Chandler Arizona College Prep of 1-2 (21-25, 25-19, 10-15), and Canyon del Oro of 1-2 (19-25, 25-11, 13-15) on Sept. 19.
Tanque Verde lists a 14-member roster of five seniors, five juniors, three sophomores, and a freshman. The seniors are Alexia Adams (3), Faith Arvizu (4), Sophia Cheney (14), Megan Hadley (11), and Michaela Peck (2); juniors Ella Haggard (9), Emily Mabry (5), Lauren Rietz (6), Brooke Savage (1), and Lauren Strata (10); sophomores Payton Balsiger (12), Makayla Hanna (7), and Cadence Jeffries (8); and freshman Ava Haggard (16).
The Hawks are competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs, 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, and the Sabino Sabercats.
Safford Bulldogs (3-3 seeding)
The Makenna Farr-coached Safford Bulldogs (6-7-2 overall, 3-3 seeding, 0-0 region) have seeding wins over Willcox of 3-0 on Aug. 31, over Pima of 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-13) on Sept. 1, and over Apache Junction of 3-0 (25-9, 25-11, 25-15) along with losses to Benson of 1-3 (25-22, 20-25, 18-25, 23-25) on Aug. 26, to Gilbert Christian of 0-3 (23-25, 11-25, 12-25) on Sept. 8, and to Thatcher of 0-3 (22-25, 21-25, 11-25) on Sept. 15.
The Bulldogs also went 3-2 during pool play and 0-2-2 during bracket play at the 2-day Payson Invitational on Sept. 4-5. Safford went 1-0 against Flagstaff Northland Prep (30-10), Fountain Hills (25-20), and Joseph City (26-24), and 0-1 against Phoenix Northwest Christian (10-30) and Payson (11-30). The Bulldogs went 0-2-2 in bracket play, falling to Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin 0-2 (5-21, 12-17), and 0-1 (24-25) to Phoenix North Valley Christian, and tied 1-1 with Lakeside Blue Ridge (16-21, 10-8) and with Show Low (9-21, 16-12).
Safford lists a 13-member roster of five seniors, five juniors, and three sophomores. The seniors are Jaycee Gable (14), MacKenna Macario (7), Gabriella Moreno (11), Jazzlyn Mortensen (3), and Lanae Shurtz (8); juniors Kassity Anderson (5), Kailana Beck (2), Jaydyn Coy (1), Martina Reyes (4), and Alicia Torres (6); and sophomores Aubri Bonilla (12), Milee Carter (9), and Kalia Cordova (10).
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.
Empire Ravens (5-0 seeding)
The Danny Arias-coached Empire Ravens (7-9 overall, 3-2 seeding, 0-0 region) have seeding wins over Desert Christian of 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-20) on Aug. 27, over Phoenix Madison Highland Prep of 3-1 (25-12, 17-25, 25-14, 25-21) on Sept. 3, and over Sabino of 3-0 (27-25, 25-17, 25-17) on Sept. 16 along with losses to Buckeye Odyssey Institute of 2-3 (25-21, 25-23, 16-25, 10-25, 12-15) on Sept. 1 and to Sahuarita of 0-3 (16-25, 20- 25, 16-25) on Sept. 8.
In addition, Empire went 4-2 during the 2-day Tucson Pueblo tourney and 0-5 during the 2-day California San Diego La Jolla tourney on Sept. 11-12. The Ravens defeated Sabino 2-0 (25-19, 25-17), The Gregory School 2-0 (25-10, 25-13), and Pueblo 2-1 (25-21, 20-25, 15-11) on Aug. 28; Tucson Sunnyside 2-1 (25-12, 21-25, 16-14) on Aug. 29. The losses were to Nogales by 0-2 (19-25, 22-25) on Aug. 28; to Sahuarita by 0-2 (20-25, 19-25); to Del Norte by 0-2 (7-25, 16-25), to Cerritos Valley Christian by 0-2 (13-25, 18-25), and to Chula Vista Olympian by 1-2 (25-23, 11-25, 6-15) on Sept. 11; to Sacramento Chico by 0-2 (11-25, 13-25) and Calexico 1-2 (25-18, 20-25, 11-15) on Sept. 12.
Empire lists a 15-member roster of eight seniors, a junior, three sophomores, and three freshmen. The seniors are Aspen Bray (16), Avangeline Homes (19), Isabelle Karg (8), Ella Peace (3), Ava Perryman (36), Addisynne Viezbicke (14), Addyson Whitie (22), and Adeline Zamora (13); junior Trinity Keller (37); sophomores Jamie Dugan (15), Zoe Minton (1), and Katelyn Rusnak (7); and freshmen Emma Dawson (11), Aliyah Rudd (18), and Calista Sutherland (5).
The Ravens are competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs, the Thatcher Eagles, and Tucson schools: the Amphitheater Panthers, the Andrada Polytechnic Mustangs, the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, the Sabino Sabercats, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
Thatcher Eagles (5-0 seeding)
The Marcie Lopeman-coached Thatcher (8-5 overall, 5-0 seeding, 1-0 region) Eagles have seeding wins over Sabino of 3-0 (25-12, 25-6, 25-13) on Aug. 27, over Florence of 3-1 (27-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-17) on Sept. 1, over Show Low of 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-21) on Sept. 8, over Coolidge of 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-17) on Sept. 10, and over Safford 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-11) on Sept. 15.
In addition, Thatcher went 3-5 during the 2-day, 36-team Mesa Westwood tourney. The Eagles defeated Tempe McClintock 2-1 (24-26, 25-19, 15-13) and Mesa Dobson 2-0 (25-16, 25-21) on Sept. 11 as well as Prescott 2-0 (25-23, 25-15) on Sept. 12. The losses were to Phoenix Desert Vista 0-2 (17-25, 9-25) and Peoria Liberty 0-2 (13-25, 11-25) on Sept. 11 along with Mesa Red Mountain 0-2 (19-25, 14-25), to Scottsdale Desert Mountain 0-2 (21-25, 13-25), and Chandler 0-2 (21-25, 21-25) on Sept. 12.
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 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.
3A South Region
The region standings as of Sept. 19 were Thatcher (8-5 overall, 5-0 seeding, 1-0 region), Tucson Empire (7-9, 3-2, 0-0), Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (2-2*, 2-2, 1-0), Tucson Tanque Verde (18-6, 5-2, 0-0), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (11-5-1, 3-2, 0-0), Safford (7-7-2, 3-3, 0-0), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (0-10*, 0-5, 0-0), Tucson Amphitheater (3-4*, 3-2, 0-0), and Tucson Sabino (2-10, 1-7, 0-3).
Three region pairings to date resulted in wins for Thatcher over Sabino: 3-0 (25-12, 25-6, 25-13) on Aug. 27; Andrada Polytechnic 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-11) over Sabino on Sept. 10; and Andrada Polytechnic 3-0 (27-25, 25-17, 25-17) over Sabino.
