Mashup of divisions brings new look to Arizona high school volleyball

Video: Desert Vista TOC stop
The Army National Guard honors the Desert Vista (Ariz.) volleyball team.

The transformation of classifications for the 2015-16 season has drastically changed all sports in Arizona.

Each sport has some quirks — with girls volleyball it is the discrepancy in the size of the divisions, considering the number of teams in Division I (25) and Division II (46) added together does not equal Division III's massive field of 80 teams.

The changes are viewed as both good and bad by coaches, per usual. There is never going to be a solution that has everyone happy.

"It is always a topic of discussion," Hamilton coach Sharon Vanis said. "I don't know if we will ever get it perfect or make everyone happy. I feel we have a very tough schedule and I am looking forward to it."

It's all about whether or not it is embraced. A challenge could be good for all.

"Being the smallest team in the Peoria School District, Cactus is at a disadvantage," Cactus coach Anthony Puglisi said. "Being our first year in D-II we are excited about the level of competition. Cactus has always played up during the year with games against Liberty, Ironwood and others so I do not feel the transition will take too much to get used to."

Division III defending champion Monument Valley remains, but the other three programs that made it to at least the semifinals have moved up to D-II while the three of the four teams that made at least the semifinals in D-IV a year ago are now in D-III although champion Thatcher stayed put.

It makes for an interesting mashup of programs throughout the state. Here is a quick preview of each division.

Division I
Favorite: Hamilton (Chandler)
Contender: Desert Vista (Phoenix)
Darkhorse: Basha (Chandler)
Comment: The Huskies were oh so close last season, losing to Desert Vista in the finals, and something just says this might be Hamilton's year, especially if Preslie Anderson — a finalist for National Sophomore of the Year last year — continues to improve and mature.

Division II
Favorite: Flagstaff
Contender: Millennium (Goodyear)
Darkhorse: Ironwood Ridge (Tucson)
Comment: The Eagles make the jump up from D-III, but bring back everyone — led by Courtney Leffel — from last year's squad that won 30 matches before losing in the semifinals to end a run of two straight state titles.

Division III
Favorite: Snowflake
Contender: Northwest Christian (Phoenix)
Darkhorse: Monument Valley (Kayenta)
Comment: With a field so big it is tough to tell who is going to come out of the 32-team state tournament, Snowflake, which won 34 matches last year, brings back two big attackers in Sydney Olsen and Shelby Reidhead, along with its top setter Melissa Eich.

Division IV
Favorite: Arizona Lutheran Academy (Phoenix)
Contender: Thatcher
Darkhorse: Glendale Prep Academy
Comment: Since 2008 Thatcher has finished in the top four of its division in the final MaxPreps rankings, and this year should be no different.

Division V
Favorite: St. David
Contender: Ray (Kearny)
Darkhorse: Joseph City
Comment: With Arizona Lutheran moving up a class, this small division is pretty wide open.

Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic sports writer and current Prep Sports Director for 1013 Communications, is a 20-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com.