The Lady Wildcats have kept their postseason hopes alive with a split in the two volleyball games played last week. Friday afternoon they were in Heber taking on the top-ranked and once beaten Mustangs. Even though they fell to the top team in three straight games, that loss really won’t hurt their overall rankings. Mogollon showed why they are the top team winning the match 25-16, 25-10 and 25-10.
Tori Beatty and Ryah Frost led the Wildcats in kills with 3 apiece. Beatty and Blair Hildreth each led in digs with 8 apiece. Not many assists were available, however, Sahzira Schoby led the team with 7.
Saturday afternoon’s home game with Rock Point was much more competitive. Joseph City was solid in the first game with a 25-9 win. Rock Point battled back taking the second game 25-23. The Wildcats took game three 27-25, then dropped game four 25-15. With the 2-2 tie the decisive fifth game went to the Wildcats by a final of 15-8.
McKenzie Jesmer led both teams in kills registering 23 put downs. Beatty, and Jackie Richards each had nine. Raylee Fish finished with 7. The Wildcats served 24 total aces led by Beatty with 6. Jaydiana Kinlicheenie added 4, as did Schoby. McKenzie Jesmer led in digs with 18. Kinlicheenie added 15, Fish 11, and Schoby finished with 10. Schoby also led the team in assists with 31 helpers. Beatty added 19.
With Rock Point ranked 13th, that win should help the Wildcats, who were ranked in the 16th and final spot when the weekend began. Only the top 16 teams in the final 1A rankings advance to the postseason.
Joseph City has three regular season matches left. Thursday they will host No. 7 Fort Thomas, and then Friday they will travel to No. 22 Grand Canyon. Their final regular season game will be next Tuesday when they travel to face 20th-ranked Williams.
The team will compete in the 1A North Central Tournament hosted by Ash Fork and Williams beginning Nov. 2. If the Wildcats could win the region tournament they would automatically qualify for the postseason, however, Mogollon is the pre-tournament favorite.
Joseph City is currently 7-8 in regular-season contests.
