By Raymundo Frasquillo
The finish was more important than the start during the region volleyball finale in Morenci Oct. 24.
Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Thatcher sophomore Taya Baldwin (7) and freshman Mikaela Jorgensen (8) form a double team to block Morenci sophomore Angel Ontiveros’ hit.
Third-ranked Thatcher entered Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium with 33-of-35 set wins during 11 region matches compared to No. 22 Morenci’s 16-of-39.
The host Wildcats posted better serve percentages in each set and for the match, but unforced errors coupled with the Eagles’ athletic ability helped spell defeat for the Wildcats.
Morenci opened with a 4-0 advantage, yet succumbed 18-25 in the first set en route to a 3-set loss, dropping the second 16-25 and the third 13-25.
Four ties (9-9, 16-16, 17-17, 18-18) occurred during the first set before Thatcher went on a 7-0 run, on five kills plus a Wildcats’ passing and serve receive error, to win.
The Wildcats came back from a 3-0 deficit in set two to tie 4-4 on a Damiana Rivera kill. Two other early ties (5-5, 6-6) were as close as Morenci came during the remainder of the set. Thatcher scored five straight points on unforced errors before a hitting error (7-11) returned the serve to Morenci. Seven additional kills plus a Morenci passing error gave the visitors a 7-point (12-19) advantage, but a serving error returned the ball to Morenci. The Eagles added six more points, on a kill plus five Morenci errors, the final a blocking error and the score favored Thatcher two sets to zero.
Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Senior Shaunee Seballos was one of four Wildcats who had flawless serves against Thatcher during the region and home finale Oct. 24.
Morenci served first in set three, but a Thatcher kill scored the set’s first point. The score was tied six times (3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8) before an Eagles’ block gave the visitors the lead for good. The Wildcats added five more points on Thatcher errors, two hitting, a double touch, one blocking, and one serving.
Thatcher earned four points on two blocks (9, 10), two kills (11, 17), and an ace serve (18) plus 12 on unforced errors, seven passing (12, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 24), two blocking (13, 25), one serving (16), one hitting (22), and one serve receiving (23).
Morenci’s serve percentage was 95 (18-19) for set one, 94 (17-18) for set two, 93 (13-14) for set three, and 94 (48-51) for the match compared to 88 (21-24), 92 (22-24), 92 (22-24), and 90 (65-72), respectively, for Thatcher.
Individually, seniors Audrey Castillo (14-14), Janeene Lang (8-8), and Shaunee Seballos (6-6), plus sophomore Angel Ontiveros (5-5) each served 100 percent. Junior Alexis Gregory had 86 (6-7) and senior Destiny Apodaca 82 (9-11).
Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Junior Rhiannon Lang awaits a hit by Thatcher sophomore Taya Baldwin.
For Thatcher, junior Kaitlynn Rasmusen (18-18), sophomore Haylee Layton (10-10), junior Sydnee Shupe (7-7), and sophomore Taya Baldwin (6-6) each served 100 percent, junior Kloee Mattice 86 (6-7), junior Brooklyn Angle 82 (14-17), and junior Raynee Draper 67 (6-9).
The Wildcats finished 2-5 for October, also felling during four sets (25-23, 17-25, 17-25, 13-25) to the Yellow Jackets in Tombstone Oct. 19, during four sets (15-25, 25-22, 23-25, 21-25) to the Cowgirls in Willcox Oct. 17, during three sets (17-25, 19-25, 18-25) to the Pima Roughriders Oct. 10, and during three sets (17-25, 13-25, 18-25) to the Bobcats in Benson Oct. 5.
Morenci’s region wins were both over the Pumas, during three sets (25-13, 25-10, 25-15) in Morenci Oct. 7 and during three sets (25-10, 25-9, 25-18) in Bisbee Oct. 3.
The 2A East Region final regular season standings were Thatcher first (12-0, 13-3 seeding record), Pima second (10-2, 13-4), Benson third (7-5, 11-6), Willcox fourth (6-6, 10-6), Morenci fifth (4-8, 7-9), Tombstone sixth (3-9, 6-11), and Bisbee seventh (0-12, 0-15).
Play-in Tournament
A play-in tournament for teams ranked 16-24 of 50 eliminated eight from the post-season Oct. 26. Two matches went five sets, one four sets, and five were decided in three sets, with two upsets of the higher seeds.
Photo By Raymundo Frasquillo: Senior Damiana Rivera successfully blocks a hit by Thatcher junior Kaitlynn Rasmussen.
The upsets were No. 17th Saint Johns (13-4 seeding, 10-2 for North No. 2) over No. 16 Willcox (10-6, 6-6 for East No. 4) in five sets and No. 20 Chandler Prep (5-12, 2-8 for Metro East No. 5) over No. 13 Sedona Red Rock (14-3, 8-2 for Central No. 2) in three sets.
Higher seeds prevailed in the other pairings, No. 9 Phoenix Horizon Honors (13-4, 8-2 for Metro East No. 2) over No. 24 Miami (12-6, 8-2 for South No. 2) 3-0, No. 10 Phoenix Country Day (13-5, 6-4 for Metro East No. 3) over No. 23 Parker (11-6, 6-4 for West No. 3) 3-1, No. 11 Pima (13-4, 10-2 for East No. 2) over No. 22 Morenci (7-9, 4-8 for East No. 5) 3-0, No. 12 Tempe Prep (10-7, 6-4 for Metro East No. 4) over No. 21 Gilbert Leading Edge (11-6, 10-2 for Metro South No. 2) 3-0, No. 14 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (13-4, 8-2 for Metro West No. 2) over No. 19 Flagstaff Northland Prep (11-6, 5-5 for Central No. 3) 3-0, and No. 15 Benson (11-6, 7-5 for East No. 3) over No. 18 Kingman Academy (14-4, 7-3 for North No. 2) 3-2.
The automatic state meet qualifiers, the region champions, meet the play-in winners on the Phoenix Arcadia High campus Friday, 4703 East Indian School Road, Nov. 3, first round at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.
Region champions are No. 1 Scottsdale Christian (18-0, 10-0 Metro West), No. 3 Goodyear Trivium Prep (16-1, 10-0 West), No. 4 Thatcher (13-3, 12-0 East), No. 5 Glendale Prep (16-1, 10-0 Central), No. 6 Phoenix Veritas Prep (15-3, 8-2 Metro East), No. 7 Chandler Arizona College Prep (15-0, 12-0 Metro South), No. 14 Eagar Round Valley (14-3, 12-0 North), and No. 17 Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (15-2, 10-0 South).
The quarterfinals remain on the Arcadia courts Friday at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and the semifinals Saturday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. The championship match is on the Phoenix North High campus, 1101 East Thomas Road, at 5 p.m.
