By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – The Marcie Lopeman-coached Thatcher Eagles host the Makenna Farr-coached Safford Bulldogs on Wednesday, Oct. 29. It is the regular season and region finale, as well as Senior Night for Thatcher.
The Eagles have a 13-5 overall record (43-20 sets) against the Bulldogs over the previous decade (2015-24), and they won nine consecutive matches (27-3 sets) from 2018-22.
Although Safford has been triumphant over Thatcher during the most recent four pairings (12-2 sets), a 15-13 fifth set score resulted for the meeting earlier this season in Norma Bellamy Gymnasium.
Overall this season, Thatcher is 14-14 in matches and 55-40 in sets won, while Safford is 16-13 in matches and 47-41 in sets won. There have been 11 common opponents played by the two Graham County schools, with Thatcher going 7-4 (27-18 sets) and Safford 5-6 (25-22 sets) against them. Against Top 16-ranked teams, Thatcher is 4-4 (12-20 sets) compared to 1-6 (7-20 sets) for Safford.
Thatcher is ranked No. 12 (10-6 seeding, 8.4586 rating) and Safford No. 19 (8-8, 4.5966) as of Oct. 24. The Eagles were ranked No. 14 (4-4, 5.8980) and the Bulldogs No. 12 (5-4, 7.1150) on Oct. 3.
The first serve is at 6 p.m.
Other region matches for region members this week (Oct. 27 – Nov. 1) include Empire hosting Tanque Verde and Andrada Polytechnic hosting Palo Verde Magnet on Tuesday, Oct. 28; and Empire visiting Palo Verde Magnet, Pusch Ridge hosting Catalina, Tanque Verde hosting Andrada Polytechnic, and Sabino hosting 4A Kino Region Sahuaro on Oct. 29.
No. 19 SAFFORD Bulldogs (4.5931 rating)
Safford (16-13 overall, 8-8 seeding, 4-3 South Region for fifth of nine) has played 16 seeding matches to date with wins of 3-1 (17-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-10) over 4A Gila Region Rio Rico on Sept. 2, 3-1 (30-28, 25-14, 17-25, 25-14) over 4A Gila Region Sahuarita on Sept. 3, 3-0 (25-7, 25-18, 25-10) over Palo Verde Magnet on Sept. 15, 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-13) over Thatcher on Sept.23, 3-0 (20-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-19) over 3A Metro Region Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood on Sept. 25, 3-0 over Catalina on Oct. 2, 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-17) over Sabino on Oct. 16, and 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-9) over Andrada Polytechnic on Oct. 21 along with losses of 0-3 (11-25, 18-25, 21-25) to 3A East Region Lakeside Blue Ridge on Sept. 4, 2-3 (25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 21-25, 12-15) to 5A Sonoran Region Tucson Canyon del Oro on Sept. 8, 0-3 (12-25, 9-25, 11-25) to 3A Central Region Chandler Valley Christian on Sept. 16, 1-3 (9-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-25) to 3A East Region Snowflake on Sept. 30, 2-3 (11-25, 26-24, 20-25, 25-8, 13-15) to Empire on Oct. 8, 0-3 (13-25, 23-25, 13-25) to Pusch Ridge on Oct. 14, 0-3 (20-25, 17-25, 19-25) to Show Low on Oct. 20, and 1-3 (24-26, 25-23, 17-25, 17-25) to Tanque Verde on Oct. 23.
The Makenna Farr-coached Bulldogs also went 2-3 during the San Tan Valley Combs tourney on Sept. 12-13 and 6-2 during the Snowflake tourney on Sept. 19-20.
Safford has a 13-member roster of eight seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores. The seniors are Marina Balistreri (11), Kai-Lee Cordova (5), Alana Foxworth (6), Jerzi Hawkins (8), Rhylie Klajda (4), Mia Peru (12), Bianca Quintero (7), and Alexis Rope (10); juniors Mackenna Macario (9), Jazzlyn Mortensen (3), and Lanae Shurtz (13); and sophomores Kassidy Anderson (2) and Jadyn Coy (1).
The Bulldogs are competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Thatcher Eagles, along with Tucson schools, the Empire Ravens, the Andrada Polytechnic Mavericks, the Catalina Trojans, the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, the Sabino Sabercats, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
Farr is in her first season as the head coach, following a 4-year run (2021-24) by Robert Abalos (103-52-1 overall, 49-19 seeding, 27-9 region, 23-13 at home, 1-4 state playoffs, 2-0 play-in round).
3A No. 12 THATCHER Eagles (8.4895 rating)
Thatcher (14-14 overall, 10-6 seeding, 7-0 3A South Region for first of nine) has played 14 seeding matches to date, with wins of 3-0 (25-12 thrice) over 4A Gila Region Tucson Amphitheater on Aug. 27, 3-1 (27-25, 21-25, 25-12, 25-17) over 3A Central Region Chandler Seton Catholic Prep on Sept. 2, 3-0 (25-8, 25-21, 30-28) over Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian on Sept. 9, 3-2 (23-25, 19-25, 25-15, 25-11, 15-13) over Tanque Verde on Sept. 30, 3-0 (25-9, 25-10, 25-15) over Andrada Polytechnic on Oct. 6, 3-0 (25-6, 25-6, 25-10) Catalina on Oct. 9, 3-0 over Empire on Oct. 14, 3-0 (25-10, 25-11, 25-10) over Palo Verde Magnet on Oct. 16, 3-1 (25-23, 16-25, 28-26, 25-20) over Pusch Ridge on Oct. 21, and 3-0 (25-12, 25-8, 25-11) over Sabino on Oct. 24 along with losses of 1-3 (18-25, 13-25, 25-15, 30-32) to 4A Gila Region Sahuarita on Sept. 11, in 3-sets to 3A Metro region Payson (21-25, 17-25, 18-25) on Sept. 15, and 2-3 (17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 13-15) to Safford on Sept. 23, and 0-3 (16-25, 19-25, 21-25) to 3A Central Region Chandler Valley Christian on Oct. 2, 0-3 (17-25, 14-25, 23-25) to 3A East Region Snowflake on Oct. 7, and 0-3 (22-25, 23-25, 23-25) to 3A East Region Show Low on Oct. 27.
The Marcie Lopeman-coached Eagles also went 2-4 during the 2-day Mesa Westwood tourney on Sept. 5-6 and 3-4 during the 2-day Snowflake tourney Sept. 19-20.
Thatcher has a 14-member roster of five seniors, five juniors, and four sophomores. The seniors are Tyla Bryce (1), Shaylee Hughes (10), Lanie Larson (6), Makenzie Lunt (11), and Kylia Nelson (9); juniors Tessa Bryce (5), Marlee Farris (7), Matti Gallett (8), Taylor Henrie (14), and Lillie Welker (4; and sophomores Allie Johnson (2), Jocelyn Lunt (12), Payten Lunt (3), and Brinlee Skousen (13).
The Eagles are competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs, along with Tucson schools, the Empire Ravens, the Andrada Polytechnic Mavericks, the Catalina Trojans, the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, the Sabino Sabercats, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
3A South Region
Region member standings as of Oct. 24 were Thatcher (14-14 overall, 10-6 seeding, 7-0 region), Tucson Empire (12-3, 4-1), Tucson Tanque Verde (18-11, 11-3, 5-1), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (17-11, 10-7, 4-3), Safford (16-13, 8-8, 4-3), Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (8-7, 8-7, 2-4), Tucson Sabino (2-5 6-17, 4-12, 2-6), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (5-21, 5-11, 1-5), and Tucson Catalina (0-13, 0-13, 0-7).
To date in 30 region matches, it was Thatcher 3-2 (23-25, 19-25, 25-15, 25-11, 15-3) over Tanque Verde on Sept. 30, 3-0 (25-9, 25-10, 25-15) over Andrada Polytechnic on Oct. 6, 3-0 (25-6, 25-6, 25-10) Catalina on Oct. 9, 3-0 over Empire on Oct. 14, 3-0 (25-10, 25-11, 25-10) over Palo Verde Magnet on Oct. 16, 3-1 (25-23, 16-25, 28-26, 25-20) over Pusch Ridge on Oct. 21, and 3-0 (25-12, 25-8, 25-11) over Sabino on Oct. 24;
Empire 3-2 (25-17, 19-25, 25-10, 22-25, 16-14) over Pusch Ridge on Sept. 30, 3-0 (25-10, 29-27, 25-8) over Sabino on Oct. 2, 3-2 (25-11, 24-26, 25-20, 8-25, 15-13) over Safford on Oct. 8, 3-0 (25-9, 25-8, 25-14) over Andrada Polytechnic on Oct. 15;
Tanque Verde over Catalina (25-9, 25-12, 25-4) on Sept. 23, 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-12) over Palo Verde Magnet on Oct. 13, 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-18) over Pusch Ridge on Oct. 16, 3-0 (25-18, 25-10, 25-21) over Sabino on Oct. 21, and 3-1 (26-24, 23-25, 25-17, 25-17) over Safford on Oct. 23;
Pusch Ridge over Sabino on Oct. 1 and 3-0 over Palo Verde Magnet on Oct. 2; Safford 3-0 (25-7, 25-18, 25-10) over Palo Verde Magnet on Sept. 15, 3-0 over Catalina on Oct. 2, 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-17) over Sabino on Oct. 16, and 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-9) over Andrada Polytechnic on Oct. 21;
Andrada Polytechnic 3-2 (26-24, 25-14, 21-25, 15-25, 15-10) over Sabino on Oct. 14 and3-0 over Catalina on Oct. 16; Sabino 3-0 over Catalina on Sept. 30 and 3-2 over Palo Verde Magnet on Oct. 27; and Palo Verde Magnet 3-0 (25-7, 25-14, 25-3) over Catalina on Oct. 23;
Tourney results (accounting for overall records) were Thatcher ending 2-4 during the 2-day Mesa Westwood tourney on Sept. 5-6 and 2-4 during the 2-day Snowflake tourney on Sept. 19-20; Empire ending 3-1 during the Phoenix Horizon Honors tourney on Sept. 6.
Tanque Verde ending 5-3 during the 2-day Tucson Magnet tourney on Aug. 29-30 and 2-5 during the 2-day Tucson Salpointe tourney on Sept. 19-20; Pusch Ridge ending 3-3 during the 2-day Payson tourney on Aug. 29-30 and 4-1 during the 2-day Benjamin Franklin tourney on Sept. 19-20;
Safford ending 2-3 during the 2-day San Tan Valley Combs tourney on Sept. 12-13 and 6-2 during the Snowflake tourney; Sabino ending 2-5 during the Tucson Magnet tourney; and Palo Verde Magnet ending 0-5 during the Tucson Magnet tourney and 0-5 during the 2-day Tucson Flowing Wells tourney on Oct. 10-11.
3A State Rankings
The statewide rankings for the Top 24 of 45 3A teams as of noon on Oct. 28 were Chandler Valley Christian (15-0 seeding, 25.7747 rating) No. 1, Phoenix Northwest Christian (13-2, 18.3948) No. 2, Snowflake (13-2, 16.3183) No. 3, Gilbert Christian (12-4, 15.6804) No. 4, Kayenta Monument Valley (14-2, 13.1165) No. 5, Florence (13-2, 12.6282) No. 6, Show Low (13-3, 12.2762) No. 7, and Surprise American Leadership – West Foothills (10-3, 12.0782) No. 8.
Payson (13-3, 11.5965) was No. 9, Yuma Catholic (14-2, 9.1041) No. 10, Tucson Empire (12-3, 8.9506) No. 11, Thatcher (10-6, 8.4895) No. 12, Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (9-7, 7.7404) No. 13, Tucson Tanque Verde (11-3, 7.3660) No. 14, Tuba City (10-5, 7.2637) No. 15, and Buckeye Odyssey Institute (10-6, 6.0285) No. 16.
Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (9-7, 5.8300) was No. 17, Lakeside Blue Ridge (8-7, 5.2351) No. 18, Safford (8-8, 4.5931) was No. 19, Ganado (11-6, 3.3827) No. 20, Fort Defiance Window Rock (10-5, 3.2139) No. 21, Parker (8-7, 3.1790) No. 22, Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (7-8, 2.3849) No. 23, and Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (5-10, 1.5932) No. 24.
The Oct. 3 or end of first week statewide rankings were Chandler Valley Christian (11-0 seeding, 23.5500 rating) No. 1, Phoenix Northwest Christian (9-1, 18.4450) No. 2, Gilbert Christian (9-3, 13.4548) No. 3, Snowflake (7-2, 12.3288) No. 4, Florence (8-1, 10.9422), No. 5, Kayenta Monument Valley (8-2, 10.0632) No. 6, Show Low (8-2, 9.6836) No. 7, and Payson (9-2, 8.7685) No. 8.
Tucson Empire (8-2, 8.3420) was No. 9, Yuma Catholic (9-1, 7.6493) No. 10, Buckeye Odyssey Institute (7-3, 7.4723) No. 11, Safford (6-4, 7.1150) No. 12, Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (6-4, 6.9887) No. 13, Thatcher (4-4, 5.8980) No. 14, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (7-5, 5.8888) No. 15, and Lakeside Blue Ridge (5-4, 5.7004) No. 16.
Tucson Tanque Verde (6-3, 4.5450) was No. 17, Surprise American Leadership – West Foothills (4-3, 4.0942) No. 18, Fort Defiance Window Rock (6-2, 2.9266) No. 19, Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (5-6, 2.6603) No. 20, Tuba City (5-4, 2.5218) No. 21, Ganado (6-3, 2.2120) No. 22, Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (4-6, 2.1396) No. 23, and Coolidge (6-3, 1.3697) No. 24.
