Volleyball seeks to improve1 min read

By
Jeff Bear
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Two of the state’s best Division IV volleyball teams met Monday night in the Sedona Red Rock High School gymnasium, where the No. 3-seeded Scorpions [11-2] hosted the No. 2-seeded Veritas Prep Falcons [12-1].

Although the state tournament is still more than two weeks away, the game had an undeniable playoff atmosphere. Both teams had played in six matches at a volleyball tournament over the previous weekend, so it could have been expected that neither team would be at its best.

Unfortunately for the Scorpions, inconsistent passing and the presence of Falcons outside hitter/setter Sarah Sponcil combined to give Veritas a little bit more when it counted, pulling out a 3-0 [25-21, 25-22, 25-21] victory over SRRHS in a match that was closer than the final score.

But both Scorpions outside hitters, juniors DeVonne Ryter and Shamina Thodé, were on top of their games, sending spike after spike at the Falcons’ defenders.

“DeVonne did a great job tonight. She just played outstanding, maybe one of the best matches she’s played all year,” said Scorpions head volleyball coach John Parks.

Thodé, who has been dealing with shoulder soreness for most of the season, appeared to be feeling much better in this game.
“It seems like every game [Thodé] is getting a little bit stronger, and we’re hoping that continues for another two weeks,” Parks said.

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For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Oct. 23, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.

Jeff Bear

Jeff Bear began his journalism career in 2003 as a graphic designer and sports reporter at the Weekly Register Call in Central City, Colorado. In 2007 he began working at the Canyon Courier in Evergreen, Colorado, as a graphic designer, but soon transferred into the editorial department where he worked as a copy editor and sport reporter under Editor Doug Bell. After a stint as a graphic designer at American Classifieds in 2009-10, Bear began working in 2011 as a copy editor at the Arizona Daily Sun, in Flagstaff. While at the Daily Sun, Bear was tapped by the late Randy Wilson to report on local sports including Northern Arizona University and Olympic medalists training in Flagstaff for the 2012 Olympics. In 2013 Bear began working at the Red Rock News in Sedona, Arizona, where he was an assistant editor and sports editor. Bear has two daughters, Angela and Jessica, with his wife Nina. He is a singer and guitarist, an avid cyclist and hiker, and enjoys camping with family and friends.

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Jeff Bear
Jeff Bear began his journalism career in 2003 as a graphic designer and sports reporter at the Weekly Register Call in Central City, Colorado. In 2007 he began working at the Canyon Courier in Evergreen, Colorado, as a graphic designer, but soon transferred into the editorial department where he worked as a copy editor and sport reporter under Editor Doug Bell. After a stint as a graphic designer at American Classifieds in 2009-10, Bear began working in 2011 as a copy editor at the Arizona Daily Sun, in Flagstaff. While at the Daily Sun, Bear was tapped by the late Randy Wilson to report on local sports including Northern Arizona University and Olympic medalists training in Flagstaff for the 2012 Olympics. In 2013 Bear began working at the Red Rock News in Sedona, Arizona, where he was an assistant editor and sports editor. Bear has two daughters, Angela and Jessica, with his wife Nina. He is a singer and guitarist, an avid cyclist and hiker, and enjoys camping with family and friends.