Sahuaro went 6-0 this weekend (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
Lion’s Den Invitational
Oct. 14-15: Mountain View
Sahuaro improved to 28-2 on the year after going undefeated to win the championship of the Lion’s Den Invitational. The Cougars won all six matches at the invitational including a 2-1 (23-25, 25-18, 15-10) win over Salpointe to get to the semifinal round and a 2-0 (25-17, 25-10) win over Thatcher in the championship on Saturday.
Sahuaro won the TUSD Invitational in September and went 5-1 at the Nike Tournament of Champions two weeks ago. The two teams to defeat Sahuaro this year were 5A No. 3 Phoenix Sunnyslope and 5A No. 8 Scottsdale Chaparral. Of the losses, only the one at Sunnyslope on Sept. 8 counts for power-ranking purposes.
Sahuaro is currently ranked No. 2 in the 5A Conference with an 11-1 overall record and a 5-0 record in the Sonoran Region. Thatcher is ranked No. 6 in the 2A Conference (8-3, 8-0). The Eagles went 5-1 at the Lion’s Den.
Sahuaro cruised to a 2-0 win over Thatcher thanks to 12 kills and 5 blocks from senior middle Brielle Sterns and 8 kills from junior hitter Madeleine Nash. Senior setter Morgan Nash finished with 21 kills.
Thatcher senior standout Ashtyn Lunt had 6 kills and senior middle Danica Rowan had 4. The Eagles are expected to do well in the 2A playoffs and Sahuaro is looking to stay near the top of the 5A rankings in order to host two playoff matches.
Salpointe went 6-1 and the Lancers (10-3, 4-1) are ranked No. 8 in the 4A Conference. The host team, Mountain View (6-7, 1-4) went 4-1 over the weekend. The Mountain Lions are ranked No. 16 in the 5A Conference.
RESULTS
Friday, Oct. 14
Tucson 2, Academy of Tucson 0
Thatcher 2, Buena 0
Chavez 2, Catalina 0
Sahuaro 2, The Gregory School 0
Buena 2, Academy of Tucson 0
The Gregory School 2, Catalina 0
Sahuaro 2, Chavez 0
Thatcher 2, Tucson 0
Salpointe 2, Kofa 0
Mountain View 2, Nogales 0
Pima 2, Pueblo 0
Rio Rico 2, Benson 1
Sahuaro 2, Catalina 0
Chavez 2, The Gregory School 1
Catalina 2, Walden Grove 0
Pueblo 2, Kofa 0
Thatcher 2, Academy of Tucson 0
Nogales 2, Benson 0
Mountain View 2, Rio Rico 0
Buena 2, Tucson 0
Mountain View 2, Benson 0
Salpointe 2, Cholla 0
Catalina Foothills 2, Pima 1
Nogales 2, Rio Rico 0
Pueblo 2, Cholla 0
Catalina 2, Kofa 0
Salpointe 2, Pima 0
Saturday, Oct. 15
Salpointe 2, Buena 0
Thatcher 2, Catalina Foothills 0
Pima 2, Chavez 0
Nogales 2, Kofa 1
Benson 2, Academy of Tucson 0
Pueblo 2, Catalina 0
The Gregory School 2, Cholla 0
Tucson 2, Rio Rico 1
Catalina Foothills 2, Chavez 0
Buena 2, Kofa 1
Mountain View 2, Pima 1
Sahuaro 2, Salpointe 1
Academy of Tucson 2, Cholla 1
Benson 2, The Gregory School 0
Rio Rico 2, Catalina 0
Pueblo 2, Tucson 0
Buena 2, Pima 1
Thatcher 2, Mountain View 1
Sahuaro 2, Nogales 0
Salpointe 2, Catalina Foothills 1
Cub Bracket Consolation Championship
Rio Rico over Academy of Tucson
Cub Bracket Championship
Pueblo over Benson,
Pride Bracket Consolation Championship
Salpointe over Buena (25-9, 5-19)
Pride Bracket Championship
Sahuaro over Thatcher (25-17, 25-10)
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and 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. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com
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