Window Rock netters enter Play-In game exuding confidence

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Nov 4, 2024 | Sports, Volleyball |

WINDOW ROCK

The Window Rock volleyball team is entering the Arizona 3A playoffs on a high note.

The Lady Scouts was awarded the No. 16 seed by the Arizona Interscholastic Association on Saturday as they will host No. 17 Empire in a Play-In game Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at the Bee Hółdzil Events Center in Fort Defiance.

On Saturday, Window Rock (11-6) pulled out a gut-wrenching four-set win over perennial powerhouse Monument Valley in the title game of the 3A North Region Tournament. The set scores were 18-25, 25-20, 25-23, and 25-23.

“I honestly can’t say when the last time we beat MV,” Window Rock coach Ashley Mitchell said. “MV always has a great program, and they are the team to beat in our conference, so this win is a huge confidence booster for the girls. They realized that if they can come together and play their game, they can be just as good.”

In Saturday’s championship game, Mitchell said they had an aggressive night at the net. Defensively, she felt that her club covered every square inch of the court.

“We were earning our points through hitting,” Mitchell said. “We weren’t scoring our points from the other team’s mistake, but we were actually putting away the ball.

“Defensively, we were shifting where we needed to be,” she added. “They just played with a lot of heart, determination, and confidence.”

The Scouts will now focus on Empire, a team that finished fifth in 3A South. The Ravens come into Tuesday’s game with an 11-6 overall record.

“They’re going to be tough,” Mitchell said. “They have a couple of good hitters, and they have some hard servers.”

Empire is led by senior outside hitter Abigail Zsitvay, who has 196 kills through 90 sets played. Sophomore middle hitter Aspen Bray is a close second with 168 kills.

Window Rock, meanwhile, has two players who have recorded 200-plus kills for the season. Through 93 sets, junior Kourtney Bitselley has a team-high 274 kills while senior Devae Willie has chipped in 205.

Most of those kills have been put up by Allyson Emerson as the junior setter has 337 assists for the year. Junior Catelin James plays a big part in Window Rock’s 6-2 rotation with 217 assists.

Chinle, Ganado, Tuba City earn Play-In spots

Special to the Times | Reginald Chee
Ganado Hornet Shelby Lee (14) dives to save the ball during its 3A North Region match with the Window Rock Lady Scouts inside the Ganado Hornet Pavilion on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The Lady Hornets travel to face No. 14 Tucson Tanque Verde for an AIA 3A Play-In game on Tuesday night.

In addition to Window Rock, three other teams from the 3A North will be in action on Tuesday night as Ganado, Tuba City, and Chinle made the Play-In game.

MV, the regular season champ, has an automatic bye into the 16-team 3A state bracket as the Mustangs were ranked No. 4 in last week’s AIA power ranking polls. The 16-team bracket will be revealed on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.

Ganado earned the No. 19 seed as the Lady Hornets will travel to No. 14 Tucson Tanque Verde while No. 22 seed Tuba City is at No. 11 ALA-West Foothills.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to represent TCHS volleyball in this year’s playoffs,” Tuba City coach Brittney Laughter said. “Regular season records are behind us and coming into postseason play, it’s anyone’s game. Those rankings don’t matter.”

Like many playoff teams, the Tuba City coach says they’re looking to be playing at their best as the winners from Tuesday’s match will play in Friday’s opening round in the 16-team bracket.

“(We’re going) to take in the atmosphere, and be ready to compete at our highest potential,” Laugher said. “Our young team, who will be writing this year’s postseason story, consists of five freshmen, six junior, and three seniors.

“They are ready to give it their all for the remainder of this week’s game,” she added.

Chinle was given the No. 24 seed as the Lady Wildcats will travel to play at No. 9 Safford. All the Play-In games are scheduled for 6 p.m.

“This is our second year in a row making the (Play-In game) and I’m very proud of our Lady Wildcats,” Chinle coach Francine McCurtain said. “We’ve been working hard on making changes toward the end here.

“We played Safford in the Snowflake tournament, and we didn’t do very well,” she added. “But I can honestly say that we’re a different squad. We hope to challenge Safford as they are ranked higher than us. We are looking forward to giving it our best shot.”