Salpointe found new ways to win Thursday night. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

It was an exciting night for the higher seeds on the bottom half of the bracket Thursday night with No. 3 Salpointe outlasting No. 6 Deer Valley 3-2 and No. 7 Marcos de Niza taking out No. 2 Seton Catholic 3-2 in the quarterfinal round of the 4A state playoffs. The huge upset by Marcos de Niza (26-9) sets up a semifinal showdown against Salpointe (34-5) on Saturday, Nov. 3 at McClintock High School.

The match between Salpointe and Marcos de Niza is set for 5 p.m. and No. 1 Greenway (30-5-1) and No. 4 Flagstaff (33-6) will follow at 7 p.m. The championship match is slated for Monday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at the same venue….

SALPOINTE STORY AT AZPreps365.COM

@salpointeVB Abby Russell talks about the huge 5-set quarterfinal final win pic.twitter.com/I4HsnKlTC6

— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) November 2, 2018

FALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, NOV. 1

4A VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINAL ROUND
No. 3 Salpointe over No.6 Deer Valley, 3-2 (22-24, 25-23, 27-29, 25-21, 15-9)

FRIDAY, NOV. 2

SWIM & DIVE PRELIMS
Skyline Aquatic Center & Dady Aquatic Center

3A VOLLEYBALL FIRST ROUND at Camelback
No. 7 Tanque Verde vs. No 10 Payson, 1 p.m.
No, 15 Pusch Ridge vs, No 2 Tuba City, 1 p.m.

2A VOLLEYBALL FIRST ROUND at Arcadia
No. 12 St. Augustine vs. No. 5 Phoenix Country Day, 9 a.m.

1A VOLLEYBALL FIRST ROUND
No. 3 St. David vs. No. 14 Superior, 11 a.m.
No. 9 Bowie/San Simon vs. No. 8 Anthem Prep, 3 p.m.

FOOTBALL FIRST ROUND

5A CONFERENCE
No. 9 Marana (7-3) at No. 8 Cienega (8-2), 7 p.m.
No. 11 Flowing Wells (8-2) at No. 6 Millennium (8-2), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Ironwood Ridge (6-4) at No. 5 Higley (7-3), 7 p.m.

4A CONFERENCE
No. 16 Apache Junction (7-3) at No. 1 Salpointe (10-0), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Glendale (9-1) at No. 5 Sahuaro (8-2), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Canyon del Oro (7-3) at No. 7 Cactus (7-3), 7 p.m.
No. 14 Walden Grove (8-2) at No. 3 Desert Edge (7-3), 7 p.m.

3A CONFERENCE
No. 11 Blue Ridge (6-4) at No. 6 Sabino (8-2), 7 p.m.
No, 13 Pusch Ridge (5-5) at No. 4 Page (9-1), 7 p.m.

2A CONFERENCE
No. 9 Benson (6-4) at No. 8 Alchesay (9-1), 7p.m.
No. 10 Willcox (7-3) at No. 7 St. Johns (7-3), 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOV. 3

SWIM & DIVE FINALS
Skyline Aquatic Center & Dady Aquatic Center

FRIDAY, NOV. 9

FOOTBALL QUARTERFINALS

5A CONFERENCE
No. 9 Marana/No. 8 Cienega winner at No. 1 Centennial, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOV. 10

CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Cave Creek Golf Course

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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is the Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com