The Oak Creek Ranch School is becoming a volleyball force to be reckoned with in the Verde Valley Conference.

Playing only seven players — mostly seventh-graders — the Oak Creek “A” team has already doubled its win total from all of last season, one in which they won just two games but had a surprise fourth-place finish in the Verde Valley Conference tournament.

“Usually, we’re the last seed in our tournaments,” seventh-grader Jacy Finley said. “But this year, we wanted to be higher than that.
“We wanted to be in a better seed so we didn’t have to play the hardest teams first. We’re taking it serious, because we want to win.”

The Roadrunners [4-8] made their first serious statement Sept. 30, sweeping West Sedona School in straight sets Sept. 30, 25-21, 25-20.

“We played well,” said Janet Burrus, Oak Creek head volleyball coach. “If they can all get their serves in, we’ll be OK.”

With wins Tuesday and Thursday, Oct. 14 and 16, over Mayer and Pine Strawberry elementary schools, the Roadrunners would not only avoid undefeated Clarkdale-Jerome School the first game of the tournament, they would also have beaten every other conference opponent at least once — including second-place Camp Verde Middle School, whom they beat in three games Sept. 23.

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Oct. 8, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.