Globe leaves Morenci with volleyball meet title

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Oncourt Morenci volleyball players meet in the middle to encourage one another during a recent match. At mid-court are senior Kay’Leigh Blair (3), junior Nicole Roybal (23), senior Alizabeth Aguilar (16), junior Jayla Wilson (1), junior Miley Dunagan (9), and junior Jadyn McCall (14). The Wildcats are in Willcox on Tuesday, Sept. 12, and host Tucson Santa Rita on Thursday, Sept. 14.

The 20th tourney decided by two points in five sets

By Raymundo Frasquillo

MORENCI – Coaches will tell you it is very difficult to beat a team three times in the same season. Globe met Morenci twice on Sept. 9, during morning pool play and for the tourney championship. The pool pairing was decided in three sets, with the third set going to 15-13 favoring Morenci. It was the second pairing of the season, with the result of the first being 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-13) for Morenci on Aug. 28.

First-time Morenci volleyball participant Globe left Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium with the top prize. The Tigers outlasted their hosts, breaking a 13-13 set five tie to win the match 3-2. The Wildcats won the first and third sets by identical 25-18 scores while the Tigers took the second (25-17) and fourth (25-21) sets.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: The Globe Tigers went 4-1 on the day, 2-1 in pool play and 2-0 in bracket play, to leave Morenci with the first place award on Sept. 9. Members of the 2023 Morenci Tourney champions are, front, from left, Emilee Satter, Daisy Hansen, Cai Cooper, and Myranda Patten; back, from left, Katelyn Moody, Qualiyah Nosie, Riley East, Jordin Talgo, Ivorie Sisto, and head coach Lisa Hansen.

Morenci topped Duncan in four sets during the semifinals. Duncan took set one 25-20 while Morenci won the next three (25-14, 25-17, 25-23). The other semifinal match was decided in three sets (25-13, 25-14, 25-14) by Globe over San Simon.

The six-member all-tourney team included San Simon junior Hollie Keil, Duncan senior Rachel Sumner, Morenci senior Kay’Leight Blair and junior Nicole Roybal, Globe senior Emilee Satter, and junior Jordin Talgo.

Results of the morning round-robin pool play were Morenci 3-0, Globe 2-1, Duncan 1-2, and San Simon 0-3.

Morenci defeated San Simon 2-0 (25-6, 25-20), Globe 2-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-13), and Duncan 2-0 (25-12, 25-21); Globe defeated Duncan 2-1 (20-25, 25-17, 25-10) and San Simon 2-0 (25-16, 25-14); and Duncan defeated San Simon 2-0 (25-22, 25-13).

Morenci Tourney finalists (2002-19, 2022)

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Hollie Keil (5) sends the ball across the net with authority against Globe junior Riley East during a pool play match. San Simon succumbed in two sets each during pool play and in three during bracket play. The Longhorn junior was selected to the six-member all-tourney team.

New Mexico Silver topped Saint David 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-18) for the 2022 title. The meet was held consecutively from 2002-19 but shelved during 2020 and 2021 because of the ongoing global health crisis.

Eight other different teams have been tourney champions, Pima five times (2008-11, 2013); Duncan four times (2004-06, 2012); Morenci (2014, 2019), Saint David (2017-18) and New Mexico Animas (2004-05) twice each; Benson (2016), Willcox (2003), and Thatcher (2002) once apiece. There was only round-robin play in 2015.

The seven other runners-up have been Miami (2019), Morenci six times (2006, 2011, 2013, 2016-18), Animas four times (2005, 2008-10), Pima (2012, 2014) and Willcox (2002, 2004) both twice, and both Bowie/San Simon (2007) and Duncan (2003) once.

Morenci came from behind to defeat Miami in three sets during the 2019 meet. Trailing by a set, the Wildcats pulled away from a late 16-16 tie to outscore the Vandals 9-4 in the second set and broke a 9-9 tie to gain a 6-2 advantage in the third set.

Saint David slipped past host Morenci in two sets in both 2018 (25-21, 25-23) and 2017 (25-20, 25-23). The 2016 meet had Benson over Morenci for first; Morenci bested Pima in 2014; Pima topped Morenci 2-0 in 2013 (25-19, 28-26) and in 2011 (21-13, 24-22), Animas 2-0 (21-17, 21-11) in 2010, plus 2-1 in both 2009 (18-21, 21-19, 15-11) and 2008 (17-21, 21-17, 16-14); Duncan prevailed 2-1 (25-22, 23-25, 17-15) over Pima in 2012, 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) over Morenci in 2006, 2-1 over Animas in 2005 and 2-1 (10-25, 25-21, 15-4) over Willcox in 2004; Animas edged Bowie / San Simon 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 15-12) in 2007; Willcox topped Duncan 2-0 (25-23, 25-16) in 2003; and Thatcher bested Willcox 2-0 in 2002.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Five of the six-member all-tourney team pose for posterity following the championship match won by Globe. The Tigers slipped past Morenci in five sets (18-25, 25-17, 18-25, 25-21, 15-13). Members of the all-tourney team are, from left, Duncan senior Rachel Sumner (8), Morenci junior Nicole Roybal (23), Morenci senior Kay’Leigh Blair (3), Globe senior Emilee Satter (7), and Globe junior Jordin Talgo (10).

This Week (Sept. 12-16)

Morenci (6-3 overall, 2-2 seeding, 0-0 2A East Region) visits Willcox Tuesday, Sept. 12, and hosts Tucson Santa Rita Thursday, Sept. 14, both for region play; Duncan (6-4, 5-1, 0-0 1A Tucson Southeast Region) welcomes Tucson Desert Christian on Sept. 12; Globe (5-7, 1-3, 0-0 3A South Central Region) hosts both 4A Black Canyon Region Apache Junction on Wednesday, Sept. 13and 3A South Central Region Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood on Friday, Sept. 15; and San Simon (1-7, 1-3, 0-0 1A Tucson Southeast Region) visits San Manuel on Sept. 12 and Nogales Lourdes Catholic on Sept. 13.