Games of the week, week 6

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season is about half over! We are getting close to region play starting to pick up, first powerpoint ranking is coming out this week (noon on Tuesday), and some of these match ups this week will have a big impact on powerpoint rankings over the next week.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a preview and prediction on 8 key match ups for the week! We took the top 4 from the small school division and top 4 from the big school division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gilbert Christian vs Scottsdale Christian</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a match up of one of the best 2A schools and one of the best 3A schools. Gilbert Christian and SCA are&nbsp; coming off an impressive showing at the Nike Tournament this weekend.&nbsp; Both these teams played earlier this season with Gilbert Chrsitian taking a 2-1 victory at the Payson Invitational. Match up will come down to who can slow down each other's pins the best. Gilbert Christian comes in 3 girls averaging over 2.5 kills a set in <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/gilbert/gilbert-christian-knights/athletes/sienna-cathey/?careerid=gti63jl8b9cbb">[player_tooltip player_id='552844' first='Sienna' last='Cathey']</a>, <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/gilbert/gilbert-christian-knights/athletes/lillie-duitsman/?careerid=0virasj1g1rrb">[player_tooltip player_id='889790' first='Lillie' last='Duitsman']</a>, and <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/gilbert/gilbert-christian-knights/athletes/alexia-heyn/?careerid=ocogguqavhel5">Alexia Heyn</a> all capable of hitting from all locations on the floor. For SCA the duo of <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/phoenix/scottsdale-christian-academy-eagles/athletes/kaya-olafson/?careerid=qrs46k9jc4h33">[player_tooltip player_id='806073' first='Kaya' last='Olafson']</a> and <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/phoenix/scottsdale-christian-academy-eagles/athletes/selah-wadsworth/?careerid=pkf02pr48qq99">[player_tooltip player_id='874855' first='Selah' last='Wadsworth']</a> will try to match the offense from the Knights. In the end we see this going the distance but Gilbert Christian pulls out a tight one!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Gilbert Christian 3 SCA 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":2} --> <ol start="2" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>North Valley Christian vs Trivium Prep</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is kind of like Christmas, some of these middle of the season match ups. In this 2A battle we see two of our top 4 teams (and maybe best 2?) go up against each other. Both these teams are undefeated in powerpoint games, and this match will more than likely decide the region champion as well. They did play earlier this year in the finals of the small school classic (Trivium won 2-0), but tournaments are always different over a powerpoint game. Trivium brings [player_tooltip player_id='882705' first='Petra' last='Zepeda'] who is 3rd in the conference in kills and hitting percentage. If NVCA can slow her down, they will have a good chance of winning. Up to the task in slowing her down is libero [player_tooltip player_id='808979' first='Mackenzie' last='Benso'] who is 2nd in the conference in digs. We do see this match going the distance as well but will give the edge to the home team in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Trivium Prep 3 NVCA 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":3} --> <ol start="3" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Thatcher vs Valley Christian</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shoutout to Valley Christian for possibly playing the toughest non conference schedule for any team 1A-3A. They have gone through the gauntlet in tournaments and have taken on multiple teams in all divisions and have been doing well against them. <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/chandler/valley-christian-trojans/athletes/ansley-venkatesh/?careerid=l6r0hf0mdct66">[player_tooltip player_id='887201' first='Ansley' last='Venkatesh']</a> has looked the part of an all conference setter by leading the conference in assists and doing so at a high efficiency. It helps to have amazing offensive weapons like <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/chandler/valley-christian-trojans/athletes/sadie-wahlin/?careerid=dqjmj33uofbbb">[player_tooltip player_id='784641' first='Sadie' last='Wahlin']</a> and <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/chandler/valley-christian-trojans/athletes/sydney-simon/?careerid=iiqgaenvarodd">[player_tooltip player_id='807441' first='Sydney' last='Simon']</a> leading the charge. Thatcher is no easy task though and has some of their own talent to be on the lookout for. Leading the way for the Eagles is <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/thatcher/thatcher-eagles/athletes/jocelyn-lunt/?careerid=dvgi15jkpd2p9">[player_tooltip player_id='814452' first='Jocelyn' last='Lunt']</a> and <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/thatcher/thatcher-eagles/athletes/makenzi-lunt/?careerid=ap8831n8d8fk4">[player_tooltip player_id='835596' first='Makenzi' last='Lunt']</a> who have been doing well offensively for them in their match ups. Valley Christian is just on another level at the moment, and we think it continues that trend in this match up.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Valley Christian 3 Thatcher 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":4} --> <ol start="4" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Payson vs Northwest Christian</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 3A region battle between two teams with only one loss. Payson comes in with an 8-1 record but hasn't had to face the top tier talent that Northwest had to face early in the season. This will be one of the first real rest for Payson who is looking to make that statement that they are one of the teams to beat in the conference this year. One match up we are ready to see is the battle between the setters in this match up. Both teams have multiple offensive weapons they can use at any given time, so we will focus more on the girls leading that offense in the two setters. For Payson, Madi<a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/payson/payson-longhorns/athletes/madi-plain/?careerid=mqb1lchu4idm6"> Plain</a> has been having a terrific start to the year and sits 3rd in assist for the conference. Right behind her is [player_tooltip player_id='874847' first='Tatum' last='Naber'] who is currently ranked 4th in assists in the conference. Both of these fantastic setters run a 5-1 and lead their team in their offensive systems. We do slightly like NWC in this match up, but think each set will go point for point for the most part. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Northwest Christian 3 Payson 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":5} --> <ol start="5" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Salpointe vs Ironwood Ridge</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This match might mean a little more over the normal in-state rivalry that it is. This past year standout outside hitter <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/tucson/salpointe-catholic-lancers/athletes/ashlyn-quiri/?careerid=idvdkchraac11">[player_tooltip player_id='749268' first='Ashlyn' last='Quiri']</a> transferred from Salpointe to Ironwood Ridge. She has formed a terrific dynamic duo with <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/tucson/ironwood-ridge-nighthawks/athletes/kallie-george/?careerid=hkdra6c7p7psc">[player_tooltip player_id='833602' first='Kallie' last='George']</a> as well. Between the two of them they are averaging almost 9 kills a set. A very powerful pair, however Salpointe is up to the challenge as they are currently undefeated in powerpoint games. Even more impressively is the team dynamic they are doing it with, as they have over 8 girls averaging a kill a set. That is one of the more insane stats I have seen to have that type of balanced offense. They can get contributions from everyone on the floor on any night. We see this match up being a high intensity Tucson rivalry match that will be hard fought. In the end the dynamic duo pulls this one out for Ironwood Ridge.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Ironwood Ridge 3 Salpointe 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":6} --> <ol start="6" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sunrise Mountain vs Centennial</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunrise just had an impressive showing at Nike this past weekend by finishing 3rd in the top division at the tournament. They showed why they are easily one of the favorites if not THE favorite to win the 5A crown this year. The Coyotes will have their hands full with both pins that Sunrise has. <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/peoria/sunrise-mountain-mustangs/athletes/addison-wiemann/?careerid=ddi36vuhsanrb">[player_tooltip player_id='808124' first='Addison' last='Wiemann']</a> and <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/peoria/sunrise-mountain-mustangs/athletes/brooklyn-jenkins/?careerid=fqdjpthqk1rh1">[player_tooltip player_id='536786' first='Brooklyn' last='Jenkins']</a> have been tough to even slow down, let alone stop. Centennial does have one of the better liberos in the state in <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/peoria/centennial-coyotes/athletes/kate-federico/?careerid=mabupmu0vo2bb">[player_tooltip player_id='802282' first='Kate' last='Federico']</a>, who will have her hands full with these outside hitters. Centennial will rely on their own pin in [player_tooltip player_id='829138' first='Alex' last='Thompson'] who leads the team with almost 4 kills a set. Although we see the sets being close in this one, Sunrise has too much firepower to handle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Sunrise 3 Centennial 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":7} --> <ol start="7" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>ALA QC vs ALA GN</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>District school battles are always the best and in this match up the amount of talent is through the roof. We don't have enough article space to write about the talent but let's chat about some match ups. ALA GN is a big team, they are a big physical team with multiple 6 footers on the front line. They will need every inch of those 6 footers though to try and slow down <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/queen-creek/ala-queen-creek-patriots/athletes/sara-bowcutt/?careerid=upcbej0hs2888">[player_tooltip player_id='807263' first='Sara' last='Bowcutt']</a>. She is 3rd in the conference in kills and will look to add to that total in her match up this week. Not to be outdone but Gilbert-North has their own amazing pin who leads the conference in kills in <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/gilbert/ala-gilbert-north-eagles/athletes/kristyn-grantham/?careerid=065r4n2k0nbaa">[player_tooltip player_id='806213' first='Kristyn' last='Grantham']</a>. Should be a high offensive and volume showdown, although we see QC pulling this one out just based on how well they've been playing recently. Should be an electric match up with multiple sets going to the wire.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: ALA QC 3 ALA GN 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":8} --> <ol start="8" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Chaparral vs Notre Dame</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams played this past weekend at the NTOC, and both had impressive showings and matches throughout the tournament. We see both these teams making a deep playoff run and are excited to see this 5A region match up. Both teams are currently undefeated in region play so this match has big region and powerpoint implications. For NDP we see Junior Pin [player_tooltip player_id='835096' first='Lucy' last='Solorzano'] being the biggest challenge for the Firebirds. Currently she is 2nd in the conference in kills with 173 after the Nike tournament and looks to attack the stellar defense of Chaparral. Chaparral will look to counter with their multiple offensive weapons. Outside the normal pins for Chaparral look out for <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/scottsdale/chaparral-firebirds/athletes/sarah-hodgson/?careerid=9jmr9bakl59g0">[player_tooltip player_id='883367' first='Sarah' last='Hodgson']</a> and <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/az/scottsdale/chaparral-firebirds/athletes/roie-van-devander/?careerid=ndd9l3othqs33">[player_tooltip player_id='846138' first='Roie' last='Van Devander']</a> being offensive standouts in this game. In big time games it is the other x-factors who will stand out. We see both of those ladies playing a big part in this match.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Chaparral 3 Notre Dame 0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->