By Jon Johnson
PIMA – After soaring to a feel-good victory over Leading Edge Academy-GEC just last week, the Pima Roughriders volleyball squad found themselves grounded hard on Tuesday night. The St. David Tigers pounced early and never let up, handing the Riders a tough 3-1 setback in a match that felt like a carbon copy of their earlier October 2024 clash – only with the same bitter taste of defeat.
The Tigers came roaring out of the gate in the opener, torching the net for a 25-19 win that left the home crowd in Pima’s gym shifting uneasily in their seats. But give credit to the Roughriders – they don’t go down without a scrap. The girls clawed back with some gritty defense and timely swings, flipping the script in the second set to pocket a 25-20 victory and even the score at one apiece. For a moment, it looked like the momentum had swung like a rogue serve into Pima’s corner.
Ah, but volleyball’s a fickle mistress, especially when the Tigers are prowling. The third game turned into a nail-biter, with St. David building a lead and then stonewalling a furious Pima rally down the stretch to snag it 25-20. That shift sucked the air right out of the gym, and the Riders couldn’t quite refill their lungs in the fourth. The Tigers closed it out 25-22, sealing the sweep in all but name and sending the Roughriders back to the drawing board with a record now dipped to 7-10 overall (2-1 in region play).
Amid the frustration, though, there were flashes of that Pima fire that keeps fans coming back – the kind of play that reminds you these young ladies are building something special in this dusty corner of the desert. Freshman middle blocker Taylor Ashby turned heads all night, racking up kills and blocks like a seasoned vet. After one thunderous spike that echoed off the rafters, the student section erupted in a chant of “She’s a freshman!” – a mix of awe and that hometown pride we all know too well. Ashby’s already the team’s block queen, and if she keeps this up, she’ll have colleges knocking before she gets her driver’s license.
Senior setter Demi Derrick was the steady heartbeat in the chaos, dishing out assists like holiday gifts and capping a serving run with a string of aces that had the Tigers scrambling. Leading the squad in dimes, Derrick’s the glue that holds this offense together – bumping, setting, and willing her teammates to victory one pass at a time.
And don’t sleep on junior middle blocker Shante Butler, who loomed like a desert storm at the net. Opponents took one look at her setup and either veered wide or risked getting swatted back to St. David. Butler’s presence forced those shy-away swings, turning potential points into Pima’s favor more than once.
With the sting of this loss still fresh, the Roughriders get a breather to lick their wounds and sharpen their spikes. No quick turnaround here – they’ve got eight days before hitting the road to tangle with the undefeated-in-region Gilbert Classical Academy (2-0 region, 8-3 overall) at 6 p.m. on Oct. 10. That’s a tall order against a squad that’s been humming along. Still, if anyone can stir up some road magic, it’s these Riders.
Fall Break throws another curveball after that, with 11 days off before a gauntlet of three straight showdowns. They’ll welcome the struggling Miami Vandals (0-2 region, 1-9 overall) to the Pima pit at 6 p.m. on Oct. 21, then turn right around to host the Lincoln Prep Lightning (2-1 region, 3-8 overall) the next night at the same time. No rest for the weary – it’s off to San Carlos on Oct. 23 for a 3 p.m. match. The regular season caps at home against the hot San Tan Charter Roadrunners (2-0 region, 9-1 overall) on Oct. 29 at 5 p.m., a fitting finale to what promises to be a rollercoaster ride.
In a region as rugged as Arizona asphalt, these bumps are part of the path. The Roughriders have shown they can fly high – now it’s about learning to land on their feet. Dust off those knees, ladies; the herd’s rooting for you.
