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Kadi Monfred jumping for the ball while Miraya Tamayo, Tiffany Quintero and Angela Navarro wait to assist. Leticia Velasquez | SMHS
San Manuel Miner
The Lady Miners volleyball team started its season with a win versus San Miguel, 3 – 0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-23). Since then they have dropped two matches in-a-row, showing great heart even in defeat.
“Our girls never give up,” said Miners’ head coach Al Trejo. “And what we lack in height we more than make up with heart.”
In the win versus San Miguel, senior captain Kadi Monfred registered 11 kills and junior Lyana Waddell had 11 service points.
The Miners lost to Ray on September 4, 3 – 0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-6). Their next match against San Carlos took five games to decide the winner. After splitting the first four games of the match, the Braves won game five, 16 – 14 to win the match, 3 – 2.
Junior Ashley Vargas has nine digs in the match against the Braves and senior Mireya Tamayo served up 12 aces.
“I am very pleased with our girls’ performance today,” Trejo said after the match versus the Braves. “We had to change our offense and defense after (playing Ray). This new rotation is more our style and the players have shown they’ve adapted to it.”
The Miners have a tough schedule ahead, playing three matches this week. September 16 at Hayden, September 17 vs. Santa Cruz, and September 18 vs. Pusch Ridge Christian Academy.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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