Falcons go 3‑2 at own tourney
by Jason Stone

CAVE CREEK – Cactus Shadows volleyball has another weapon heading into the final stretch of the season. Kelly Foley is becoming a dominant force and that has co‑coach Michelle Drechsler excited for the playoff push.

“She’s just playing incredible,” Drechsler said. Her comments came after Foley, a junior, guided the Falcons to a 5‑2 week, including three wins at their own Cactus Shadows Volleyball Classic. “She’s a force in the back row. Her digs aren’t normal. They’re perfect passes. That’s what makes her amazing.”

Foley leads the team with 227 digs this season. Her hot play has helped offset the loss of star hitter Sara Pages, who hasn’t played since the second match, and other nagging injuries on the team. Those injuries caught up to Cactus Shadows during its tournament on Sept. 23, but the Falcons still managed to win three of five matches.

“We really need somebody right now to close the (match) in the front (row),” Drechsler said. “Right now, we don’t have that.”

Pages was medically cleared to play this week and should be working her way into the hitting rotation by the Oct. 6‑7 Goldwater Tournament, Drechsler said.