Lions, Ravens arrive in Graham on Tuesday

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Bulldogs, from left, Alexis Rope (10), Jerzi Hawkins (6), Breanna Arbizo (5), Jaydyn Coy (2), Rhylie Klajda (4), and Payton Abalos (1) position themselves for the start of a set. Safford hosts Pusch Ridge while Thatcher hosts Empire on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

By Raymundo Frasquillo

SAFFORD – The Robert Abalos-coached No. 11 Safford Bulldogs (6-3 seeding, 8.2685 rating) host the Jamie Ricksecker-coached No. 6 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian Lions (10-2, 13.8142) on Tuesday, Oct. 15.Meanwhile, the Marcie Lopeman-coached No. 29 Thatcher Eagles (2-8, minus 4.0802) host the Danny Arias-coached No. 21 Tucson Empire Ravens (6-5, 3.0122) also on Oct. 15. The pairings are both for South Region play.

The two Graham County teams are Tucson bound Thursday, Oct. 17, Safford to Sabino and Thatcher to No. 38 Palo Verde Magnet (5-8, minus 10.3169); Safford hosts No. 22 Lakeside Blue Ridge (4-7, 2.9053) while Thatcher visits Tucson Catalina on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Senior defensive specialist Breanna Arbizo (5) receives a serve from an opponent.

Also this week (Oct. 14-19) for region members, No. 14 Tanque Verde (8-2, 6.5446) hosts No. 43 Catalina (0-7, minus 25.3423) and No. 35 Sabino (4-6, minus 9.4232) hosts No. 41 Andrada Polytechnic (2-9, minus 15.4731) on Oct. 15; Sabino visits Empire on Wednesday, Oct. 16; and Pusch Ridge hosts Tanque Verde, Sabino visits Empire, and Andrada Polytechnic visits Catalina on Oct. 17.

Tanque Verde defeated Palo Verde Magnet 3-0 (25-11, 25-11, 25-15) on Oct. 14.

Pusch Ridge Lions (10-2, 4-0)

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Junior Kai-lee Cordova checks the defensive alignment before beginning her delivery.

Pusch Ridge (10-2 seeding, 4-0 region) is 30-8 in seeding sets played. The Lions have seeding match wins of 3-1 (17-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-16) over Thatcher (Sept. 10), 3-1 (25-6, 25-5, 25-16) over Buckeye Odyssey Institute (Sept. 11), 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 28-26) over Florence (Sept. 16), 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-16) over Tucson Flowing Wells (Sept. 18), 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-8) over Tucson Desert Christian (Sept. 24), 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-15) over Marana Mountain View (Sept. 30), 3-0 (25-11, 26-24, 25-18) over Empire (Oct. 1), 3-0 (25-8, 25-18, 25-5) over Palo Verde Magnet (Oct. 3), 3-0 (25-7, 25-14, 25-11) over Andrada Polytechnic (Oct. 9), and 3-0 (25-7, 25-10, 25-15) over Sabino (Oct. 11).

The losses are 0-3 (22-25, 17-25, 21-25) to Phoenix Northwest Christian (Sept. 3) and 0-3 (24-26, 23-25, 23-25) to Tucson Salpointe Catholic (Sept. 5).

Safford Bulldogs (6-3, 2-0)

Safford (6-3, 2-0) is 22-10 in seeding sets played. The Bulldogs have seeding match wins of 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-13, 25-22) over Rio Rico (Sept. 3), 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-23) over Sahuarita (Sept. 4), 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-15) over Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (Sept. 12), 3-0 over Palo Verde Magnet (Sept. 16), 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-20) over Thatcher (Sept. 24), 3-0 over Catalina (Sept. 28), 3-0 (25-, 25-13, 25-18) over Empire (Oct. 9).

The losses are 0-3 (23-25, 15-25, 23-25) to Chandler Valley Christian (Sept. 6), 1-3 (22-25, 23-25, 25-12, 23-25) to Tucson Canyon del Oro (Sept. 9), and 0-3 (18-25, 21-25, 8-25) Snowflake (Oct. 1).

Empire Ravens (6-5, 1-2)

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Jazzlyn Mortensen (3) sets the ball for a teammate during a recent home match.

Empire (6-5, 1-2) is 21-16 in seeding sets played. The Ravens have seeding match wins of 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-20) over Benson (Aug. 28), 3-0 (30-28, 25-19, 25-22) over Tanque Verde (Aug. 29), 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-19) over Nogales (Sept. 5), 3-0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-19) over Sierra Vista Buena (Sept. 11), 3-0 (25-15, 25-5, 25-10) over Andrada Polytechnic (Sept. 24), and 3-1 (25-18, 25-22, 18-25, 25-16) over Marana Mountain View (Sept. 25).

The losses are 0-3 (19-25, 22-25, 10-25) to Douglas (Sept. 4), 2-3 (25-17, 24-26, 17-25, 26-24, 13-15) to Sahuarita (Sept. 18), 0-3 (11-25, 24-26, 18-25) to Pusch Ridge (Oct. 1), 1-3 (26-24, 17-25, 25-27, 20-25) to Florence (Oct. 8), and 0-3 (-25, 13-25, 18-25) to Safford (Oct. 9).

Thatcher Eagles (2-8, 1-1)

Thatcher (2-8, 1-1) is 13-24 in seeding sets played. The Eagles have seeding match wins of 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-20) win over Amphitheater (Sept. 18) and 3-0 (25-10, 25-9, 25-7) over Andrada Polytechnic (Oct. 7).

The losses are 2-3 (15-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-19, 7-15) to Chandler Seton Catholic (Sept. 3.), 1-3 (25-17, 14-25, 21-25, 16-25) to Pusch Ridge (Sept. 10), 0-3 (23-25, 17-25, 24-26) to Sahuarita (Sept. 12), 2-3 (18-25, 25-15, 21-25, 25-23, 9-15) to Payson (Sept. 16), 0-3 (14-25, 12-25, 19-25) to Chandler Valley Christian (Sept. 19), 0-3 (20-25, 23-25, 20-25) to Safford (Sept. 24), 1-3 to Snowflake (Sept. 27), and 1-3 (16-25, 20-25, 25-21, 17-25) to Tanque Verde (Oct. 1).

3A South Region

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Safford junior Marina Balistren (11) tosses up the ball for a serve.

Region member standings through Oct. 12 are Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (10-2 seeding, 4-0 region), Safford (6-3, 2-0), Tucson Tanque Verde (7-2, 1-0), Tucson Sabino (4-6, 2-1), Thatcher (2-8, 1-1), Tucson Empire (6-5, 1-2), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (5-8, 1-3), Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (2-9, 0-4), and Tucson Catalina (0-7, 0-1).