THATCHER, Ariz. — In a thrilling five-set match on Monday night, Eastern Arizona College secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory (25-22, 23-25, 16-25, 25-17, 15-12) over Central Arizona College to advance to the Region I Finals and secure a spot in the Rocky Mountain District Tournament as well. With this win, Eastern Arizona (20-10, 9-3 ACCAC) will face Arizona Western College on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. in Yuma, where the stakes include the region title and top seeding in the district tournament.
Eastern Arizona will confidently enter the Region I Finals after rallying from a 2-1 deficit against Central Arizona. Melanie Merrill, the newly crowned ACCAC Division I Player of the Year, led the way with 20 kills and 16 digs. Merrill’s efforts were bolstered by Brianna O’Donnal (11 kills, 12 digs) and Elisa Saunders (11 kills, 4 blocks), while Kadence Moore, the ACCAC Defensive Player of the Week, anchored the defense with 21 digs.
Region I Finals Preview: Eastern Arizona vs. Arizona Western
The upcoming Region I Finals match will determine the seeding for both teams in the Rocky Mountain District Tournament. The winner will claim the #1 seed from Region I, facing the #2 seed from Region 18, while the runner-up will enter as the #2 seed, meeting the Region 18 champion. The two winning teams from the district tournament will then qualify for the National Tournament in Clarksville, Tenn.
Season Series Recap
Eastern Arizona and Arizona Western have split their season series, setting the stage for a highly competitive final:
- Sept. 20, 2024 — Eastern Arizona defeated Arizona Western 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-8, 25-15, 15-13) in Thatcher, with strong offensive performances from Merrill (19 kills) and O’Donnal (16 kills).
- Oct. 4, 2024 — Arizona Western swept Eastern Arizona 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-15) on their home court in Yuma, with balanced offensive contributions from Natalia Valencia-Gamboa and Gabriela Martensson.
- Oct. 5, 2024 — Arizona Western narrowly edged Eastern Arizona in a five-set contest, 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 25-18, 19-25, 15-13), behind an outstanding performance by Ma’o Lauhingoa, who hit .562 with 10 kills.
Key Players to Watch
- Eastern Arizona: Merrill (ACCAC Player of the Year) will lead the offense, supported by First Team All-Region selections O’Donnal and Asya Akbulut. Moore’s defense in the back row and Pushckor’s presence at the net will be crucial to countering Arizona Western’s attack.
- Arizona Western: Rana Yamada, the ACCAC Libero of the Year, will be key to Arizona Western’s defense, while Larrynn Joseph-Rodrigues and Natalia Valencia-Gamboa add depth to their offense alongside Lauhingoa.
The Region I Finals will take place Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. MST in Yuma, Ariz.
