Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Senior outside hitter Mia Hoglan, (5) and junior setter Kierra Lacey (14) flank sophomore middle hitter Kaylee Kempton (6). The South Region Duncan trio awaited a serve during a home match with East Region San Manuel. The Wildkats prevailed in four sets over the Miners on Oct. 9.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
DUNCAN – South Region Duncan topped East Region San Manuel 3-1 (25-14, 13-25, 26-24, 25-12) on Oct. 9. The win enabled the Sandy French-coached 1A Wildkats to even their season mark at .500 (2-2).
In three prior matches, Duncan had a five-set (25-20, 25-15, 23-25, 18-25, 15-13) home win over Tucson Immaculate Heart on Sept. 29, along with road losses in three sets (14-25, 18-25, 23-25) to San Simon and in five sets (19-25, 25-17, 16-25, 25-17, 19-21) to Fort Thomas on Oct. 6.
The No. 13 Wildkats visited No. 27 Patagonia (0-2) onTuesday, Oct. 13 and will travel to Saint David for a region match Thursday, Oct. 15. Patagonia was also at Bisbee on Wednesday, Oct. 14 and will host Fort Thomas on Oct. 15.
Duncan’s remaining schedule includes six region pairings, at home with Patagonia on Oct. 20 and Fort Thomas on Oct. 22, at Desert Christian on Oct. 27, at home with San Simon on Oct. 29, at Immaculate Heart on Nov. 3, and at home with Elfrida Valley Union on Nov. 5.
Rankings as of Oct. 12 for the South Region members were San Simon (4-0 overall) No. 2 (6.6480 rating), Saint David (4-1) No. 6 (2.9212), Fort Thomas (2-2) No. 10 (0.8482), Elfrida Valley Union (2-3) No. 11 (minus 2. 4767), Duncan (2-2) No. 13 (minus 2.8860), Tucson Desert Christian No. 17 (minus 4.2709), Patagonia (0-2) No. 23 (minus 7.6563), and Immaculate Heart (0-2) No. 24 (minus 7.9774).
The nine-member Duncan roster has seniors Lauren Basteen, Melissa Claridge, Mia Hoglan, and KinsleyRapier; juniors Kierra Lacey and Kiley McGrath; and sophomores Ivanna Cano, Kaylee Kempton, and Kyanna Lacey.
