Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Duncan’s line-up, from left, Keirra Lacey (14), Melissa Claridge (12), Kaktys Garcia (16), Kaitlyn Lunt (2), Kinsley Rapier (7), and Lynnie Neilson (6), returns to the court after a timeout. The Wildkats took the court for a final time in 2019 against Superior on Oct. 24. Duncan prevailed in four sets, dropping the first 25-19 and taking the next three 25-16, 25-18, and 25-15.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
DUNCAN – The Sandi French-coached volleyball squad closed the regular season with a four-set East Region victory over Superior Oct. 24.
The Wildkats (7-8 seeding, minus 5.3229 rating for No. 21, 3-5 in the region for 5th of nine teams) concluded their season 11-16 overall. Duncan moved up two spots, from No. 23 to No. 21 of 36 1A teams, and three slots in the region from 8th to 5th, after defeating Superior. However, only the top 16 ranked teams will be in the state meet. Additionally, the top four region teams will participate in the region tourney with the top two finishers qualifying for the state meet.
It was not how the Wildkats hoped the season would end.
The Class of 2020 members concurred they had expected to qualify for the state meet this season. Kaktys Garcia, Kaitlyn Lunt, and Lynnie Neilson thought a post-season berth would be attained.
However, Duncan is staying home during the state meet for a seventh straight year. The Wildkats were last in the post-season during 2012 as the No. 6 seed, going 1-1 and ending in the quarterfinals.
“We have a good group of seniors,” French said. “We’ll miss them.”
The rest of the Wildkats’ 10-member roster included juniors Lauren Basteen, Melissa Claridge, Mia Hoglan, and Kinsley rapier; sophomores Keirra Lacey and Kiley McGrath; and freshman Kaylee Kempton.
Superior (1-16 seeding, minus 13.5698 for No. 28, 0-8 region for 9th) also ended its season last week. The Panthers did not qualify for the region or state tourney.
Duncan was on the road during six of eight October matches, going 4-4, in addition to finishing 2-3 during the 2-day Chandler Prep Invitational.
“We had our ups and downs,” French said.
The Wildkats downed Patagonia (21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-22) on Oct. 1 and Superior (19-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-15) on Oct. 24 in four sets, and both Sells Baboquivari on Oct. 18 and Kearny Ray (25-22, 25-11, 25-20) on Oct. 22 in three sets. The Superior and Ray matches were in region play.
The losses were in four sets at home to Fort Thomas (25-23, 15-25, 14-25, 23-25) in region play Oct. 3, in five sets to Phoenix NFL Yet (19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 18-25, 18-20) in region play Oct. 8, and in four sets to both Elfrida Valley Union (20-25, 25-23, 12-25, 13-25) on Oct. 11 and to North Phoenix Prep (25-19, 16-25, 15-25, 13-25) in region play Oct. 17.
Three pool matches at the Chandler Prep Invitational resulted in a 1-2 record with a 2-1 win over Tucson Santa Rita and 2-set losses to both Morenci and Tuba City Greyhills Oct. 4. The bracket portion had a 2-1 win over North Phoenix Prep and a 2-0 loss to Whiteriver Alchesay Oct. 5.
The 1A East Region standings on Oct. 25 were the North Phoenix Prep Gladiators first (8-0), the Gilbert Arete Prep Chargers second (6-1), the Fort Thomas Apaches third (6-2), the Phoenix NFL Yet Eagles fourth (4-4), the Duncan Wildkats fifth (3-5), the Cibecue Wildcats sixth (3-5), the Winkelman Hayden Lobos seventh (3-5), the Kearny Ray Bearcats eighth (2-5), and the Superior Panthers ninth (0-8).
East Region member rankings were No. 5 for Fort Thomas (14-2 seeding, 3.8208 rating), No. 7 for North Phoenix Prep (14-2, 3.2061), No. 8 for Arete Prep (10-3, 1.0915), No. 16 for Hayden (7-10, minus 4.0199), No. 20 for Ray (7-7, minus 5.1631), No. 21 for Duncan, No. 22 for NFL Yet (6-11, minus 5.8019), and No. 28 for Superior.
The 1A East Region Tourney will have the top four teams in Superior, beginning at noon Tuesday, Oct. 29. The state tourney is at Scottsdale Coronado High, 7501 East Virginia Avenue, on Nov. 8-9.
