Verrado volleyball enters season’s final stretch

Verrado's Kayla Steg goes for the kill against two Sunnyslope opponents.

  The Verrado High School volleyball team is nearing the end of its 2014 season with  just three matches to go beginning with a match against Glendale on Oct. 23.

  The Vipers record, through the team’s 3-0 loss to Sunnyslope on Tuesday, now stands at 11-3  in regular season play and 8-3 in section play.

  Verrado is currently ranked in third place in the Div. II, Section III standings behind Sunnyslope and Notre Dame Preps and just ahead of Agua Fria based on division winning percentage.

  As of the AIA power rankings of Oct. 22 the team is sitting in 16th place, with the result form the Sunnyslope game yet to be figured into the ranking.

  Prior to the Sunnyslope game the team fell to district rival Agua Fria 2-3.

  Verrado has been without a key player for the past few games. Senior Rylie Steg, a key hitter and defender up front, has been unable to play due to injury.

  In AIA State Tournament play 16 teams will be award playoff berths. The winner from each of the six Div. II sections will receive an automatic bid and 10 teams will receive at-large bids based on the division rankings.

  In addition to the Glendale match, the Vipers will also face section foe Paradise Valley on Oct. 28 and non-division opponent Cactus on Oct. 30.

Verrado's Celine White (right) taps the away from a Sunnyslope opponent for a point during Verrado's 3-0 loss to the Vikings.