MaxPreps 2016 Arizona boys volleyball playoff matchups

Desert Ridge's fantastic season has the Jaguars thinking about a state title in boys volleyball after years of futility, while Seton Catholic and Desert Vista have the top seeds.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jason Skoda
By
May 5, 2016, 11:17pm
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The interloper has big plans.

The final boys volleyball rankings have been released and the Division I and Division II brackets have been released. The usual suspects – Desert Vista, Boulder Creek, Gilbert, Brophy – are among the top teams, but they are separated by a newcomer.

Desert Ridge earned the third seed in Division I with a 29-2 overall record and 17-1 in power ranking matches. Not bad for a program that rarely had a winning season or made the playoffs until 2013.

"Teams started to realize we weren't the same old Desert Ridge," said senior Justin West, a versatile outside hitter and sparkplug player. "They look at us differently, and now they put a target on us as a team they want to beat."

The Jaguars will host a first-round playoff game on Saturday with hopes of fulfilling a four-year plan to break into the Arizona elite stratosphere.

"It's been a process but it is great seeing it come together like we had hoped it would at some point," Desert Ridge coach Cassie Forsgren said.

Here is a look at the first-round matchups.

Division I
No. 16 Chandler at No. 1 Desert Vista (Phoenix)
No. 9 Hamilton (Chandler) at No. 8 Gilbert
No. 12 Basha (Chandler) at No. 5 Highland (Gilbert)
No. 13 Higley (Gilbert) at No. 4 Perry (Gilbert)
No. 14 Mountain View (Tucson) at No. 3 Desert Ridge (Mesa)
No. 11 Mesa at No. 6 Corona del Sol (Tempe)
No. 10 Brophy College Prep (Phoenix) at No. 7 O'Connor (Phoenix)
No. 15 Deer Valley (Glendale) at No. 2 Boulder Creek (Anthem)

Division II
Seton Catholic has earned the top seed in Division II.
Seton Catholic has earned the top seed in Division II.
Photo by Darin Sicurello
No. 16 Sunrise Mountain (Peoria) vs. No. 1 Seton Catholic (Chandler)
No. 9 Cactus (Glendale) vs. No. 8 Williams Field (Gilbert)
No. 12 Ironwood Ridge (Tucson) vs. No. 5 Mesquite (Gilbert)
No. 13 Northwest Christian (Phoenix) at No. 4 Horizon Honors (Phoenix)
No. 14 Rincon/University (Tucson) at No. 3 Ironwood (Glendale)
No. 11 Salpointe Catholic (Tucson) vs. No. 6 Mountain View (Tucson)
No. 10 Centennial (Peoria) at No. 7 Sahuaro (Tucson)
No. 15 Canyon del Oro (Tucson) at No. 2 Cienega (Vail)

Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic sports writer and current Prep Sports Director for Times Media Group, is a 20-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com.

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