Games of the week, Week 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arizona high school volleyball really took off this past weekend with some amazing tournament matches and powerpoint games. We have seen some fantastic match ups already! This week we will specifically look at some 1A-3A match ups of the week! Small schools are starting to get some conference defining match ups this week! Also, we will&nbsp; be at the small school classic this weekend! Look for us there!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gilbert Christian vs Valley Christian&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are excited to see this one! It has all the wow factors, star power (check), top 5 teams (check), great atmosphere (check). In what could be a preview of the state finals we will get a chance to see these two go at it. Gilbert Christian is coming off a very successful weekend in Payson by winning the Payson Invitational. Valley Christian also had a good week by remaining undefeated in their powerpoint games. We look forward to seeing if [player_tooltip player_id='552844' first='Sienna' last='Cathey'] continues her dominant run as she leads the state in kills after this weekend. We see this match going the distance but Valley Christian pulling out a tight one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Valley Christian 3 Gilbert Christian 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":2} --> <ol start="2" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Seton Catholic vs Thatcher</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seton and Thatcher both took care of business last week in the matches by winning and staying undefeated. Both are notorious powerhouse volleyball programs with numerous playoff appearances between the two of them, however this is only their second match up in the last 10 years with the match last year going 5. We see another tight match up coming this time, Seton which will be led by [player_tooltip player_id='805300' first='Elizabeth' last='Steinkamp'] who is averaging 5 kills a set, but will have a tough match up against a normally very aggressive big blocking team in Thatcher. We see the depth of Seton coming out in front in this match up as “Lizzy” should get help from Ellie Washkowiak and Sophia Fisher to beat the good defense team in Thatcher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Seton Catholic 3 Thatcher 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":3} --> <ol start="3" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Camp Verde vs Horizon Honors</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A top 2A battle that we will get early in the week. Both teams look to rebound after an opening season loss to top 2A teams in Trivium and PCDS respectively. We see a battle that may go the distance as Horizon Honors has a very balanced attack with 5 girls all averaging at least 1 kill a set. On the other side Camp Verde is a 3 headed monster led by [player_tooltip player_id='844006' first='Page' last='Oothoudt'] who is averaging over 2.5 kills a set. We do see the offensive firepower of Camp Verde being the difference in this one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Camp Verde 3 Horizon Honors 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":4} --> <ol start="4" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Northland Prep vs North Valley Christian</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two top 10 teams battle it out this week in 2A. We see this match being a slug fest but full of talented players we are excited to watch. Leading the way for Northland Prep is [player_tooltip player_id='816637' first='Makenna' last='Murphy']. This 6 rotation setter is a player to watch as the season progresses. She has the potential to be a 1st team all conference performer this year. For NVCA we see [player_tooltip player_id='806217' first='Kylee' last='Wick'] and [player_tooltip player_id='832197' first='Gabby' last='Rice'] leading the way for them. We see this being a back and forth match up but with NVCA having more offensive weapons, we see them pulling this one out at the end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: NVCA 3 NPA 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":5} --> <ol start="5" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Northwest Christian vs Parker&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwest Christian is one of our top teams in 3A so this will be a good test for Parker who always has strong teams and strong showings each season. Northwest does have a lot of fire power it brings to the table, led by two seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='874847' first='Tatum' last='Naber'] and [player_tooltip player_id='822954' first='Cadence' last='Roberts'] who lead their team in assists and kills. However, be on the lookout for freshman pin Izabella Bombinski, she had a great showing in Payson and looks to continue that trend this week in NWC powerpoint matches.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Northwest Christian 3 Parker 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":6} --> <ol start="6" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St Johns vs Joseph City</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joseph City had a great showing at the Payson Invitational, ending it by rattling off 6 straight wins before losing to Mingus in the finals of their bracket. St. John only had one game last week losing a heartbreaker to Round Valley 2-3. We think Joseph City will give St. Johns a run in this one especially with 4 girls averaging over a kill a set.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Joseph City 3 St. Johns 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":7} --> <ol start="7" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Chandler Prep vs Trivium Prep</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a normal 2A juggernaut battle (met in the semi finals 2 times in the last 5 years) we see the Knights vs the Titans this week. Trivium had an impressive showing at the Wolves classic, losing to eventual champion Estrella Foothills in the semi finals. Trivium is led by [player_tooltip player_id='882705' first='Petra' last='Zepeda'] and Grace Layton, both of whom are averaging over 3 kills a set. Chandler Prep, which is a very young team this season, is led by senior captain Roxy Mason and Mikky Dunmar. We see the experience of Trivium pulling this one out, although the youth of Chandler Prep could give Trivium fits!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Trivium Prep 3 Chandler Prep 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":8} --> <ol start="8" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ben Franklin vs San Tan Charter</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>San Tan had a great start to their season last week with a new coach and some new faces leading the program. San Tan was led last week by [player_tooltip player_id='882774' first='Ella' last='Shoap'], who is a 6 rotational player who not only has great hands, but also has an arm on her and was second on her team in kills last week. An all around player like that makes a big difference in a match up like this. Ben Franklin looks to rebound after a rough start to the season last week. They have the talent to compete and will look to get going this week. We see this going the way of the Roadrunners at the end of the day because they have multiple high caliber weapons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: San Tan 3 Ben Franklin 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":9} --> <ol start="9" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Anthem Prep vs North Phoenix Prep</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 1A battle between two top 10 programs in the conference. North Phoenix Prep is a dark horse in our 1A rankings as they have one of the better players in the conference in Sophie Ulrich. She is a go to hitter who when they need a point, the ball normally finds her and leads to them getting that point. Anthem Prep is always a good team with solid depth. They have 4-5 key contributors who can give them points. However, we see Sophie as being too much to handle in this 1A battle and that gives the edge to NPP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: North Phoenix 3 Anthem Prep 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->