Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci ended its state tourney drought (since 2011) by qualifying as the No. 13 of 16 teams. The Wildcats bowed out in the first round in three sets to No. 4 Sedona Red Rock on Nov. 8. Morenci is 61-71 overall during four seasons under Rhyanna Mennen. The 2019 roster includes, front, from left, Jadyn Aguilera, Reve Garcia, Celina Manuz, Mia Ontiveros, Elianna Cazares, Talia Martinez, and Sonia Roybal; BACK are Devanie Medina, Candace Forgach-Aguliar, Juliauna Forgach-Aguilar, Coach Mennen, Lanea Leonard, Amaya Sanchez, and Angel Ontiveros.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
PHOENIX – Top-ranked Thatcher fell 3-0 (11-25, 11-25, 6-25) to No. 2 Scottsdale Christian in the state volleyball championship match at Phoenix North High on Nov. 9. The East Region champion Eagles’ loss followed the 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 26-24, 20-25, 15-13) semifinal win over the No. 5 and West Region champion Glendale Trivium Prep Crimson Knights.
Thatcher eliminated No. 8 Scottsdale Prep in the quarterfinals and No. 16 Phoenix Christian in the first round Nov. 8. The scores were 3-1 (15-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-7) over the Central runner-up Spartans and 3-0 (25-18, 25-18. 25-10) over the Valley third-place Cougars, respectively.
Metro champion Scottsdale Christian defeated No. 3 and Metro runner-up Phoenix Veritas Prep 3-1 (19-25, 25-17, 26-22, 25-16) in the other semifinal. The Eagles posted 3-set wins over both No. 7 and Metro 4th place Phoenix Country Day School (25-19, 25-13, 25-19) in the quarterfinals and No. 15 and Valley 4th place Gilbert Classical (25-11, 25-9, 25-10) in the first round.
Three of the other four East Region volleyball qualifiers to the two-day state tourney bowed out in the first round. Three-set losses were suffered by No. 13 Morenci (14-25, 20-25, 24-26) to No. 4 and Central champion Sedona Red Rock and by No. 14 Benson (4-25, 8-25, 12-25) to No. 3 Veritas Prep. Eleventh ranked Pima was eliminated with a 4-set (20-25, 25-23, 18-25, 21-25) loss to No. 6 and Metro third placer Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep.
Trivium Prep eliminated Sedona Red Rock 3-1 (27-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-19) in the quarterfinals and No. 12 Phoenix Valley Lutheran (Central 3rd place) 3-0 (25-21, 25-13, 30-28) in the first round.
Veritas Prep ousted Rancho Solano Prep 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-12) in the quarterfinals and Benson in the first round.
Other first-round 3-set exits were made by No. 9 and West runner-up Parker to Scottsdale Prep (25-21, 25-17, 27-25) and by No. 10 and Valley champion Chandler Prep to Phoenix Country Day (25-20, 25-17, 25-17).
The higher seeds went 13-2, with the four Metro Region entrants posting an 8-3 record, the East four 3-4, the Central three 2-3, the Valley three 0-3, and the West two 2-2.
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