6A-4A Play-In Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The regular season is done! We now move onto the playoffs and in the playoffs anything can happen. It is a win or go home situation for all teams that are left. We would like to congratulate all teams on their successful seasons to make it to this point. Not everyone in the state gets a chance to play in the playoffs, so congratulations to all teams that have made it to this point.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you want to see all the brackets and divisions, follow the link below:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://azpreps365.com/brackets/volleyball-girls">https://azpreps365.com/brackets/volleyball-girls</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is our preview for 4A-6A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A Conference Play-in</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Game we are most excited to see:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#16 Desert Ridge vs #17 Higley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the 3rd match up this season between these two region foes. Both match ups this season have gone this distance by going to 5 and match ups have been won by Desert Ridge. We don't see the length of the match changing at all, as both these teams are super balanced and both bring some star power to the match. For Desert Ridge they are led by freshman [player_tooltip player_id='885187' first='Rylee' last='Asanovich'] and [player_tooltip player_id='836497' first='Natalie' last='Lorenzo']. Both these players are leading them in kills and Rylee is also leading the team in assists. They both are super dynamic players who have carried this team for parts of the season. We love the talent Rylee has displayed by being able to lead in assists and 2nd in kills. Those would be the two players the Knights must focus on to win this match. The Knights will try to slow them down with their phenomenal libero in Addison Thompson who is averaging over 5 digs a set and covers so much ground with her exceptional footwork. If they can stay in system and get the ball to their power hitter in [player_tooltip player_id='877457' first='Lucy' last='Schmidt'] they have a good opportunity to take it. She is a game changer on the pin averaging over 4.5 kills a set for the Knights and can also block and play good defense. We see this going the distance and think beating someone 3 times is tough so we give the edge to Higley!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Higley 3 Desert Ridge 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best chance at an upset:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#21 Red Mountain vs #12 Shadow Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be a rematch of an early season battle won by Shadow Ridge. Red Mountain did not have their full starting line up available in that match and now they should be all back for this match up. We do love what Troy Sherman is doing over by the white tanks with Shadow Ridge. The Stallons had one of their best seasons ever but should be on upset alert in this match up. The Stallions will look to [player_tooltip player_id='805644' first='Haley' last='Cashatt'] to continue their winning ways as she is the offensive leader for Shadow Ridge. She is complemented well by her setter [player_tooltip player_id='798010' first='Rigley' last='Garrison'] who distributes the ball well and puts in great places for Haley to terminate the ball. Red Mountain has their own great setter in [player_tooltip player_id='879901' first='Rihanna' last='Brooks'] who sets up her own weapons in [player_tooltip player_id='822894' first='Brooklyn' last='Black'] and [player_tooltip player_id='804918' first='Brinley' last='Hatch']. Both these teams play super scrappy and have had moments of brilliance this season. We see this match up going slightly different this time, probably the full 5 sets.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch in the play-in match ups:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='879901' first='Rihanna' last='Brooks']-Red Mountain</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='798010' first='Rigley' last='Garrison']-Shadow Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='882648' first='Kai' last='Perkins']-Desert Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adilyn Mittendorf-Boulder Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='826157' first='Emma' last='Minor']-Pinnacle&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='877457' first='Lucy' last='Schmidt']-Higley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='778035' first='Kalista' last='Fuller']-Perry</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='845340' first='Cassidy' last='Armstrong']-Millenium</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5A Conference Play-in</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Game we are most excited to see:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#16 Buckeye vs #17 Cienega&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anytime you get seeds separated by one spot you know you are getting a great match up. Cienega is having a great season and are led by Sophia King and Ayla Scott. These two have been doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the Bobcats. They are two of the offensive weapons for the Bobcats, and will look to keep the Hawks defense at bay with their attacks. Buckeye is led by two hitters in Taya Lewis and [player_tooltip player_id='836853' first='Payton' last='Sims']. These two hitters combined are averaging almost 6 kills a set and have a diverse set of offensive attacks each. Their attacks when in system are at a very high level and their court IQ is very impressive and they are able to see any openings that are presented to them by the Bobcats. We see this being a close match up, but Buckeye has too many weapons and depth to be taken in this match up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Buckeye 3 Cienega 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best chance at an upset:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#18 Catalina Foothills vs #15 McClintock</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Catalina Foothills has a very deep team with multiple high level players who will present some challenges for the Chargers. [player_tooltip player_id='882702' first='Alivia' last='Sutton'] is leading them with almost 4 kills a set, senior captains Sydney Hellbusch and Leah Stoneking provide that experience and talent to aid Sutton in her game. For McClintock and head coach Jacob Laikona it is all about balance and versatility. The Chargers have 5 girls averaging over 1.2 kills a set so they can get their offense from anywhere. This will present problems for Catalina Foothills as they won't be able to just camp out on one hitter and this will give the Chargers a ton of open space. This should be a fun match to attend, if you are in the Tempe area I would encourage you to stop by!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch in the play-in match ups:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='706296' first='Alyssa' last='Ortiz']-Verrado</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='877506' first='Reyna' last='Jones']-ACP</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaycee Cook-Canyon Del Oro</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riley Swezey-Campo Verde</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='888757' first='Aspen' last='Edwards']-Willow Canyon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='840359' first='Guinevere' last='Hagest']-Lake Havasu</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='892988' first='Leena' last='Hernandez']-Mountain Pointe</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ayana Conklin-Desert Mountain</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4A Conference Play-in</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Game we are most excited to see:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#13 Thunderbird vs #20 Paradise Honors</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first two times these teams met they were great matches, both going 3-1 in the way of Thunderbird. Thunderbird has some real star power in this match up. Starting with the two catalysts of the team in setter [player_tooltip player_id='805099' first='Cecelia' last='Bouchard'] and libero Ema-lee Burke. These two senior captains have done a great job running the defensive and offensive system for the Titans. As these are both top 5 in respective categories for their conference. However, Paradise Honors is a deep team, especially on offense with over 4 girls averaging 1.5 kills a set. They are able to get the ball to multiple hitters and run complex offensive sets when the time is right as these girls can all terminate the ball. The balance of a good offensive game makes it that much tougher on a team to be able to prepare and be ready. We do see Thunderbird winning this match up, although beating any team 3 times in a season is a tough thing to do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction: Thunderbird 3 Paradise Honors 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best chance at an upset:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#19 Bradshaw Mountain vs #14 St. Mary's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St Mary's if they can get past this first match up will be a bad draw for any high seed 4A school. They have 2 offensive weapons that will possess challenges for some of the higher ranked teams. When they are on and in system they are a dangerous team, they are led by [player_tooltip player_id='823795' first='Elana' last='Clark'] and Mylee McDowell who are both averaging 3.4 kills a set. Those 2 when they are on and in system possess a specific set of problems as they are both athletic, power hitters who can hit to all areas of the court. If there is one team that can compete with them it would be Bradshaw Mountain as they have some of their own talented players. Leading the way on the defensive side will be libero Annie Platt plus blockers Eliana Moll and Kenna Martinez. These 3 lead a very successful Bears defense and will give those 2 St Mary's hitters all the trouble they can handle. Either one of these teams can cause issues for some top teams if they are able to win this match up, we see this one going 4 or 5 sets and should be some top level play.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to watch in the play-in match ups:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='807367' first='Sophia' last='Frandsen']-Thunderbird</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='842159' first='Cashlyn' last='Baker']-Poston Butte</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='787997' first='Jade' last='Smith']-Arcadia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mylee McDowell-St Mary's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mackenzie Proffer- Bradshaw Mountain</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='886521' first='Ashlyn' last='Persha']-Paradise Honors</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='874832' first='Sadie' last='Snyder']- Estrella Foothills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='891295' first='Laila' last='Long']- Cactus</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->