Arizona’s week 1 games of the week

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arizona high school volleyball fans are already in for a treat this week with some marquee match ups in week 1 of the season. Each week we will be highlighting games of the week in each conference, with it being a short week we will highlight 10 games from all conferences that are high impact games already.This week we have multiple top 10 match ups and even a top 5 match up to highlight this week's games!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Xavier vs Liberty</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach DeFriez era begins with a match up against number #1 Xavier on the road. Liberty has some firepower with [player_tooltip player_id='806274' first='Lauren' last='Forelli'] and Mykenna Kowren leading the charge for the Lions, both are skilled offensively and should give Xavier fits all night. However, Xavier has a lot of dynamic offensive weapons lead by [player_tooltip player_id='774402' first='Tessa' last='Larkin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='544566' first='Vivian' last='Hickman'] which should lead to a close match, but in the end Xaiver pulls this one out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Xavier 3 Liberty 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":2} --> <ol start="2" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Highland vs Casteel</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A top 10 match up for 6A sees two east side powers go at it. Casteel is still loaded with offensive weapons led by 2026 middle [player_tooltip player_id='822870' first='Brooke' last='Harwood'] but Highland always has the talent and depth to compete at the highest levels. We are excited to watch the junior pair of [player_tooltip player_id='805774' first='Isabella' last='Stojkovic'] and [player_tooltip player_id='877226' first='Lila' last='Ellsworth'] lead the charge for the Hawks. However we see Casteel with the number 1 senior prospect pulling this one out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Casteel 3 Highland 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":3} --> <ol start="3" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Queen Creek vs Hamilton</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another top 10 match up sees Hamilton vs Queen Creek in an early season east side battle. Queen Creek is always a team right on the edge of stardom and we hope to see them make a leap this year and will get a chance to prove that against Hamilton. Hamilton is lead by [player_tooltip player_id='806890' first='Nia' last='Curry'], who should be a 6 rotational pin leading their offensive game. We see the overall depth of Hamilton taking this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Hamilton 3 Queen Creek 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":4} --> <ol start="4" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Millennium vs Sandra Day O'Connor</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A westside marquee match up sees two powerhouse teams going at it. We will see the defensive monster that is Millenium go up against the offensive firepower that is Sandra Day O'Connor. For Millenium it will all come down to [player_tooltip player_id='809025' first='Marianne' last='Garcia'], she is a defensive wizard in the backrow, and if Sandra Day can keep the ball away from her they will have a shot. Sandra Day will be led offensively by [player_tooltip player_id='827057' first='Leylah' last='Duran'] and [player_tooltip player_id='808453' first='Berkley' last='France'] which will see how they fair against the All Conference libero. We see a tight match up going the way of the Eagles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Sandra Day 3 Millenium 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":5} --> <ol start="5" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Centennial vs Verrado</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A match up between two teams who could make a run come playoff time. We see this match going the distance as both teams are evenly matched. Verrado will be led by Junior [player_tooltip player_id='706296' first='Alyssa' last='Ortiz'], as she is the top offensive player for the Vipers. As for the Coyotes, they are led by Senior [player_tooltip player_id='829138' first='Alex' last='Thompson'] and NAU commit [player_tooltip player_id='802282' first='Kate' last='Federico'] who will lead both the offensive and defensive charge between the two of them! We see the Coyotes pulling out a tight one at the end of the day.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Centennial 3 Verrado 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":6} --> <ol start="6" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>ALA Gilbert North vs Mica Mountain</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mica Mountain and ALA Gilbert North both graduated some key pieces from their teams last year, we are intrigued to see how the new talent fills in with the impressive returning players for both teams. Both these teams have the coaching and key players to make a run in the playoffs and this will be a good barometer to see who can make a early season jump in our rankings. We see Mica pulling this one out this week, but we need all sets being closely contested.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Mica Mountain 3 ALA Gilbert North 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":7} --> <ol start="7" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ben Franklin vs Seton Catholic </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An early season 3A match up sees defending state runners up in Seton Catholic take on one of our dark horse teams in Ben Franklin. This will be a good test to see where each stacks up in the realm of 3A. We do see Seton which is led by [player_tooltip player_id='805300' first='Elizabeth' last='Steinkamp'] being a little too strong offensively for the Chargers but this could be a close match if they are able to contain her!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Seton Catholic 3 Ben Franklin 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":8} --> <ol start="8" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gilbert Christian vs Snowflake</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 3A top 10 match up to begin the season. Snowflake brings in a new coach but isn't short on talent as they return [player_tooltip player_id='844104' first='Ranell' last='West'] and [player_tooltip player_id='829382' first='Alyssa' last='Peterson'] both of who combined to average over 4 kills a set. Gilbert Christian returns their veteran coach and 3 D1 players, and has high expectations this season. We are looking forward to both teams making an early season statement with this match up.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Gilbert Christian 3 Snowflake 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":9} --> <ol start="9" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Veritas vs Fountain Hills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are excited to see [player_tooltip player_id='827316' first='Mary' last='Hamann'] compete this year, she is a returning all conference player and has a chance to lead Veritas to a deep playoff run. Fountain Hills returns a lot of depth and if a few players can fill the void left by Kitrick Garman this could be a team to reckon with come the end of the season. However we see Veritas winning this one, but a rematch later in the season could be different.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Veritas 3 Fountain Hills 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":10} --> <ol start="10" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. David vs Mogollon</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An early season top 10 1A battle between two notorious high level teams. Both teams have lost a few starters this off season but seem to reload with other high level players each year. We are excited to watch Myla Porter from Mogollon and Austyn Hatch from St. David as they are both stepping up to be the offensive leader on each team. Both are candidates to watch for all conference performers this year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: St David 3 Mogollon 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->