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B.C.
volleyball meets goal
Jaguars
reach state as No.7 seed; Eagles make it at No. 16
by
Jason Stone
DVUSD
– Boulder Creek’s boys volleyball team had one goal all
season.
“We
wanted to host a match in the state tournament, and we did
that,” coach Chad Speer said about his Jaguars’ opener in
the 5A‑Division II state tournament.
The
Jaguars opened eyes all over the state this season with
26 wins in their first full year at varsity. The season
included a championship at the Notre Dame Invitational and
a great showing at the prestigious Mountain View tournament
in Marana.
But
the big time came this week when the seventh‑seeded
Boulder Creek (26‑12) hosted No. 10 Marcos de Niza
in a first‑round state match May 9. Results of the
match were unavailable at press time, but had the Jaguars
won, which they were favored to do, they would most likely
travel to Tucson to take on No. 2‑seed Catalina Foothills
in the quarterfinals May 11.
“I
think we’re ready to go,” Speer said.
Speer’s
group might want to get used to Tucson if the Jaguars
plan on advancing far in the 16‑team, four‑round
tournament. In addition to a possible quarterfinal game
in Tucson, the city will host the semifinals and championship
rounds May 13.
“I
told the guys to get used to Tucson at the tournament
we were at,” Speer said.
Boulder
Creek’s local rival, Sandra Day O’Connor, also squeaked
into the state tournament field, grabbing the No. 16 seed.
The Eagles were scheduled to play at No. 1 Saguaro May
9, but that match was also played past press time.
Both
teams saw action in the Northwest Region tournament last
week. The Jaguars nearly pulled off a major feat May 4
but lost in three games to Deer Valley in the championship
match. O’Connor won a first‑round match May 2 against
Goldwater, but lost the next day to Deer Valley in the
semifinals. The Eagles ultimately took third when it topped
Mountain Ridge in three games in the third‑place
match.
Boulder
Creek placed four players on the All‑Northwest Region
team, including first‑team selections Kyle Norton
and Mason Maki. In the honorable mention selections, Christian
Puszie and Jay Alicandro were both named.
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