Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Duncan junior Melissa Claridge goes low to receive a serve in Morenci on Sept. 7. The Wildkats bowed out of the Morenci Invitational with a two-set loss to top-seed Saint David. Duncan posted a 14-16 deciding set loss in the season region home opener with Gilbert Arete Prep on Sept. 3.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – Morenci’s volleyball team did something it was unable to do during four years with 2010 grad Rhyanna Mennen as a player, and the last three years with her as a head coach. The Wildcats (9-1 overall, 2-0 seeding, 0-0 region) emerged from their own 10-team tourney holding the first place award Sept. 7. It was the largest field of 18 meets and the eighth time Morenci was a finalist, also placing first in 2014.
When coach Mennen left home early Saturday morning, she had no clue her team would leave Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium with the first-place award in the evening.
Third seed Morenci edged fifth seed Miami 2-1, dropping the first set 17-25, and winning the second 25-20 plus the third 15-11 for the title. The Wildcats topped both prior bracket opponents 2-0, seventh seed New Mexico Bayard Cobre (25-22, 25-14) during the semifinals and sixth seed Globe (25-23, 25-15) during the quarterfinals.
“I found a new line-up (and) rotation.” the fourth-year head coach said. “We struggled against Benson (in pool cross-pairings) and Globe (in bracket play), but the girls found a way to win. They dug deep, played with a lot of heart, and never lost their mental focus. I’m proud of them.”
The Wildcats trailed Miami by a set, pulled away from a late 16-16 tie to outscore the Vandals 9-4 in the second set, and broke a 9-9 tie gain a 6-2 advantage in the third set.
Miami qualified for the meet finale by upsetting two opponents, going three sets apiece against top seed Saint David (25-21, 16-25, 15-10) in the semifinals and fourth seed Benson (25-10, 26-28, 15-11) in the quarterfinals.
The third-place match between Cobre and Saint David was not played.
Cobre upset second seed San Carlos 2-1 (32-34, 25-21, 15-8) and Saint David eliminated ninth seed Duncan 2-0 (25-10, 25-14) in the other quarterfinals.
Two-set wins were recorded by both Cobre and Duncan during the play-in round, 27-25 plus 25-16 over tenth seed San Simon and 25-22 plus 25-18 over eighth seed Cibecue, respectively.
Afternoon bracket seeds were decided by morning round-robin pool play results.
Red Pool standings were Saint David 4-0, Morenci 3-1, and Globe, Cobre, and San Simon 1-3 apiece. Saint David (total points scored 120-60) triumphed 30-9 over San Simon (83-119), 30-15 over Morenci (105-80), 30-22 over Globe (97-118), and 30-14 over Cobre (89-117); Morenci prevailed 30-16 over San Simon, 30-18 over Globe, and 30-16 over Cobre; Globe edged San Simon 30-28; Cobre defeated Globe 30-27; and San Simon slipped past Cobre 30-29.
The Black Pool had the San Carlos Braves and the Benson Bobcats both with 3-1 records, the Miami Vandals and the Cibecue Wildcats both 2-2, and the Duncan Wildkats 0-4. The Braves (117-97) topped Duncan (80-120) 30-28, Benson (91-70) 30-17, and Miami (102-82) 30-22; the Bobcats bested Miami 24-20, Duncan 30-11, and Cibecue (84-115) 30-9; the Vandals downed Cibecue 30-15 and Duncan 30-13; and the Wildcats defeated Duncan 30-28 and San Carlos 30-27.
A cross pairing of Red No. 1 Saint David topped Black No. 1 San Carlos 30-8, Red No. 2 Morenci bested Black No. 2 Benson 30-18, Black No. 3 Miami defeated Red No. 3 Globe 30-26, Red No. 4 Cobre defeated Black No. 4 Cibecue 30-23, and Black No. 5 Duncan downed Red No. 5 San Simon 30-22.
Morenci opened the week in “The Land of Enchantment” against Lordsburg, leaving with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-23) win Sept. 3, and a 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-22) home win over San Carlos Sept. 5.
The Wildcats travel to San Simon Saturday, Sept. 14 before beginning 2A East Region play.
Other Tourney Participants
Duncan (3-7 overall, 1-1 seeding, 0-1 1A East Region) welcomes San Simon Sept. 10 and is at Cibecue for a region match Sept. 12.
The Wildkats opened the season with a 5-set region loss (19-25, 9-25, 25-21, 25-22, 14-16) to the visiting Gilbert Arete Prep Chargers on Sept. 3. The Sandi French-coached squad followed with a 3-1 (25-23, 25-20, 24-26, 25-22) road win over the Superior Panthers on Sept. 5.
Benson (5-3, 2-0, 0-0 2A East Region) visits Tucson Desert Christian on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The Bobcats topped two opponents 3-0, Tucson The Gregory School (25-21, 25-16, 25-23) on Sept. 3 and Valley Union in Elfrida on Sept. 4.
Miami (5-4, 0-1, 0-0 2A South Region) hosts Superior on Sept. 10 and visits Globe for a region match Thursday, Sept. 12. The Vandals opened with a 3-set loss (19-25, 13-25, 21-25) at Gilbert Christian on Sept. 3.
Globe (2-6, 1-1, 0-0 2A South Region) hosts Miami at High Desert Middle School on Sept. 12. The Tigers opened with a 3-2 win (15-25, 25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12) at Whiteriver Alchesay on Sept. 3 before falling 0-3 (10-25, 17-25, 17-25) at Gilbert Classical on Sept. 4.
San Carlos (4-5, 0-2, 0-0 2A South Region) hosts Alchesay on Sept. 10, are at Laveen Heritage on Wednesday, Sept. 11 and welcome Tucson Desert Christian for a region contest Sept. 12. The Braves succumbed 1-3 (21-25, 25-19, 24-26, 19-25) to Fort Thomas on Sept. 3 and 0-3 (14-25, 14-25, 22-25) in Morenci on Sept. 5.
Saint David (6-1 overall, 0-0 seeding record, 0-0 1A South Region) hosts Sells Tohono O’odham for a region match Sept. 10, welcome Phoenix NFL Yet for a double-header Sept. 12, and is at Anthem Prepon Friday, Sept. 13.
San Simon (2-5, 1-0, 1-0 1A South Region) is at Duncan on Sept. 10, and hosts Fort Thomas on Sept. 11 and Morenci on Sept. 14. The Longhorns posted a 3-0 region win at The Academy of Tucson on Sept. 4.
Cibecue (2-4, 0-0, 0-0 1A East Region) is at Winkelman Hayden on Sept. 10 and hosts Duncan on Sept. 12, both in region contests.
Cobre (4-5, 0-1, 0-0 3A District 3) hosts neighboring Lordsburg on Monday, Sept. 9 and are at Tularosa on Sept. 10. The Indians brought a 0-1 record to the Morenci meet, falling in three sets at Chaparral on Sept. 3.
Morenci Tourney finalists (2018-2002)
Eight different teams have been tourney champions, Pima five times (2008-11, 2013), Duncan four times (2004-06, 2012), Saint David (2017-18) and New Mexico Animas both twice (2004-05), and Benson (2016), Morenci (2014), Willcox (2003), and Thatcher (2002) once apiece. There was only round-robin play in 2015.
The six runners-up have been 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.
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.
