The competition for top volleyball team in Division IV, Section IV has already become a three-team race — with Sedona Red Rock High School chalking up results on both sides of the ledger.

Following a 3-1 home loss Sept. 25 to section leader Northland Prep, SRRHS [16-5-3] rebounded with a dramatic comeback win, 3-2, Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Northwest Christian High School. The two opponents are ranked second and fourth in the state, respectively, in the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s power rankings as of Thursday, Oct. 2.

“We came out flat and lost the first two sets,” Scorpions head coach John Parks said after the two-hour road win Sept. 30. “We didn’t have the greatest practice on Monday. Our energy level was not where it needed to be.”

It did not help that the sixth-ranked Scorpions were coming off a third-place finish in their second tournament of the season, the Wolves Classic in west Phoenix. SRRHS won five out of six matches Sept. 26 through Saturday, Sept. 27.

“I thought we did a real good job of having the team come together, but we came back from that a little beat-up and a little tired,” Parks said. “We’re trying to manage some injuries and some illnesses.”

But once senior Hannah Johnson was brought off the bench and into the back row, the momentum shifted.

For the full story, please see the Friday, Oct. 3, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.