Hosting 14 teams at the 24th annual Joseph City Volleyball Tournament last weekend, including Ash Fork, Grand Canyon, Hopi, Mogollon, Piñon, Red Mesa, Rock Point, Round Valley, Seligman, St. Johns, St. Michael, Valley and Williams, the Lady Wildcats finished as the runner-up, falling to Piñon in the title match.
Mogollon won the consolation championship with a win over Round Valley.
The Wildcats and Piñon cruised to the title match with unblemished marks.
With bracket games played to best of three, Piñon took the first game 25-19 only to see Joseph City bounce back, taking the second game 25-23. The Cats held an early lead in game three, but eventually succumbed to too many hitting and serving errors, falling 15-9.
“Even though we didn’t win the tournament, I feel we were able to learn to love the game a little bit better and, more importantly, learn to work together as a team. In my book that is the ultimate goal,” said Head Coach Sheri Brennan.
The Wildcats now return to the final couple of weeks of the regular season to prepare for the Division V state tournament. After playing at Cibecue on Thursday, the Cats will host Areta Prep today (Oct. 17). On Tuesday, Oct. 21, they travel to face St. Johns.
Joseph City headed into Thursday’s action ranked sixth in Division VI.
