Lady Cats Lose To Veritas In 1A State Volleyball Semifinals

By Greg Perkins
   Joseph City’s volleyball season came to a close in the semifinal round of the state playoffs as the Lady Wildcats lost to eventual runner-up Veritas in three games.
   The Lady Cats entered the state playoffs as the top seed from the North region and took care of the fourth best team from the South region, Superior, in three games, 25-6, 25-19 and 25-20, to advance to the second round.
   Shelby Fish played a solid match with 15 assists and 12 digs, and she served five aces. Allyson Dixon had a kill and three digs. Sammi Perry had four kills, an ace and four digs. Tori Mosier had six kills, an ace and nine digs. Linsey Wouters had eight kills, an ace, three blocks and a dig. Kaylee Pugh had three digs. Lexi Edwards had a block and three digs. Natalie Griffith had two kills, an ace and two blocks. Jaci Penrod had a kill, three aces and 25 digs. Mackenzie Fields had two kills and a block.
   The Lady Wildcats passed through the quarterfinals with a three-game win over Academy of Tucson, 25-23, 25-14 and 25-23. Fish again played well with three kills, two aces, 24 assists and 10 digs. Perry had five kills, an assist and 13 digs. Mosier had nine kills, four aces and 10 digs. Wouters had a good all around match with 10 kills, an ace, two blocks, an assist and 16 digs. Griffith had a kill, three blocks and a dig. Penrod had an ace and 16 digs. Fields finished with five kills, four blocks, an assist and two digs.
   Facing Veritas Prep last Saturday in the semifinal match, the Lady Wildcats came up short, losing the first game 25-22, then falling in the second 25-13. They saw their season come to a close with a 25-15 loss in the third game.
   Fish had three kills, 15 assists and nine digs. Perry had two kills and four digs. Mosier had eight kills, an ace, a block and four digs. Wouters closed out with seven kills, a block, an assist and five digs. Pugh had a dig. Griffith had a kill, two blocks and three digs. Penrod had an assist and nine digs. Fields had two kills, an ace, a block and a dig.
   Joseph City wrapped up the season with an overall mark of 37-10-1 including all tournament matches. The Lady Cats were unbeaten in the 1A North with a 12-0 mark.
   Veritas lost to Valley Lutheran in the championship match in five games.