By Greg Perkins Holbrook needed to win either one of their final two regular season matches to assure themselves of a spot in the 3A state play-in matches. Unfortunately they were unable to win either match. Playing at Blue Ridge on Oct. 23, Holbrook really didn’t pose much of a challenge to the Yellowjackets, losing the math in three games, 25-16, 25-9 and 25-16. Playing at Show Low two days later things didn’t improve much for the Roadrunners as they were again soundly beaten in three straight games. Holbrook entered Thursday’s contest ranked in the 24th overall position in the rankings. Despite their two losses they were fortunate enough to have all the other teams competing for that final 24th ranking, also lose, leaving Holbrook to claim the final position in the play-in tournament. Holbrook won just three regular season matches all season, two over Winslow and one against Show Low, but their overall strength of schedule was enough to keep them in the 24th position. As the No. 24 seed they traveled to Phoenix yesterday (Oct. 30) to face ninth seeded Odyssey Institute. If Holbrook can upset the Minotaurs (14-3) they would then enter the state tournament as the 16th overall seed and will have to face top ranked Snowflake in the first round of the state tournament. With a loss on Tuesday night Holbrook’s season will come to a close. The Lady Birds finished the regular season with an overall record of 3-14. If they can advance to the state tournament they will face Snowflake this weekend at Camelback High School.
