Chloe Goorman (Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

 

The 2017 Girls’ Volleyball season got underway Monday night with 13 matches throughout the state. Results from Southern Arizona included Nogales over Empire 3-0; Pusch Ridge over Santa Rita 3-0 and Benson over Tanque Verde 3-2.

The Gregory School beat San Miguel 3-0 in the other final from Tucson. The Hawks recorded 15 wins and made it to the 1A quarterfinal round last year under third-year coach Angela Earnhart and the team hopes to be a contender for the South Region championship despite the loss of seniors Natalya Mayhew and Devin Johnston along with Rachel Gonzales.

Gonzales is only a junior but the standout setter will be out this year with an ACL injury. The injury has caused a change in the lineup with fellow juniors Acacia Reeder and Chloe Goorman sharing setting duties but All-Southern Arizona standouts junior Anna Valencia and seniors Elena Acuna and Brandi Swenson return.

Goorman recorded 12 assists in the win over San Miguel and Reeder had 10. Valencia led the Hawks with 12 kills, Acuna had eight and Swenson added seven.

“We have a new setup but we got off to a good start,” Goorman said. “It’s always bad to lose someone as good as Rachel but we have a good group this year and I think we will do well.”

The Gregory School won the first set 25-19 but the Hawks found themselves down 19-15 in the second set after senior libero Adriana Bracamonte served an ace and junior hitter Jadelynn Chin recorded a kill for San Miguel but the Hawks went on a 10-3 run to close out the set 25-22.

The Gregory School pulled away early to win the third set 25-13. The Vipers were led by Bracamonte, Chin, Brianna Coronel, Casandra Loyola, Jasmine Brower and Yamilex Arvayo. Anthony Launey is in his first year with the program.

The TUSD Invitational is scheduled for this Friday and Saturday at Palo Verde.