by 
Copper Basin News
The seventh and eighth grade Jr. Lady Cats’ volleyball teams won their season opening matches versus the visiting Eloy Blue Devils. The seventh-graders swept Eloy, 3 – 0 (25-6, 25-16, 15-7) while the eighth grade team won, 2 – 1 (25-15, 22-25, 15-4).
The seventh-grade team executed its game plan to perfection; three touches and over. Acacia Baldenegro was on top of her service game, leading the Jr. Lady Cats to victory in the first game. Emma Cude, Shelby Yocum, and Julia Lorona earned the praise of their coach for performance and passing ability. Shaylyn Arbizo made her presence felt in the second game, picking up at the service line where Baldenegro left off. Juliann Hong and Danella Morales continued the Jr. Lady Cats domination at the service line in game three. Izzy Kimmell and Emiley Rutter “had good passes” in the game, according to Jr. Lady Cats’ head coach Stacy Johnson.
“It was great to see these girls play a positive match and begin to understand the true game of volleyball,” Johnson said after the match.
The eighth-grade team split the first two games versus the Blue Devils before a convincing win in game three sealed the match.
The combination of winning at the service line, good communication, and execution on the court accounted for the Jr. Lady Cats victory in game one. Julie Meza, Danella Hinojos, and Riley Cude were strong at the service line. Eloy had the upper hand at the service line in game two, making it difficult for the Jr. Lady Cats to return serve. Jr. Lady Cats’ newcomers Corrina Martinez and Hailey Rutter did well in their debuts serving underhand. Meza and Hinojos dominated at the service line in game three, helping the Jr. Lady Cats to a season opening victory.
“I enjoyed watching these girls play,” head coach Stacy Johnson said after the match. “(It was fun) just to see where they are at after coaching them last year as seventh graders.”
After a road match at San Manuel on September 15, the Jr. Lady Cats return home to taken on the Hayden Lobos on September 17.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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