Volleyball playoffs begin for Safford, Thatcher and Pima on Friday

By Brian Wright
Sports Editor
Published on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 9:53 AM MST

Three of the Gila Valley’s high school volleyball teams will chase a state championship starting Friday.

Thatcher and Pima will vie for the 2A title in Peoria, and Safford will battle for the 3A title in Prescott.

Fort Thomas was eliminated in the 1A East region tournament Friday by Gilbert Surrey Garden.

At the 3A tournament, Safford received the No. 3 seed out of 16 teams.

The Bulldogs (13-4) play No. 14 Winslow (11-6) at 11 a.m. at Prescott High School on Friday.

Safford, however, didn’t receive any favors with its draw despite the No. 3 seed.

A potential second-round match with No. 6 Tuba City looms.

Tuba City (15-2) is one of the favorites to win the state title, and Safford coach Janene Ward has a lot of respect for the Warriors.

Thatcher (17-0) heads into the 2A tournament as the No. 2 seed out of 24 teams. Pima (13-4) received the No. 7 seed.

In another quirky draw, Pima would play region rival Thatcher in the quarterfinals if both win first-round matches Friday.

Morenci (13-4), also out of the East region, is the No. 6 seed.

Thatcher, Pima and Morenci receive first-round byes because they are top eight seeds.

Morenci’s first match is at 9 a.m. against the winner of No. 11 Tucson Pusch Ridge (13-5) and No. 22 Phoenix North Pointe (7-12).

Pima plays the winner of No. 10 Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (10-5) and No. 23 Valley Sanders (9-10) at 11 a.m.

Thatcher begins the state playoffs at 1 p.m. against the winner of No. 15 Baboquivari (11-7) and No. 18 Hayden (8-6).

The semifinals and finals of the 2A and 3A state tournaments are Saturday.

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