Arizona

Arizona HS volleyball roundup: Perry wins 6A championship

Published

10 months ago

May 18, 2025

Arizona HS volleyball roundup: Perry wins 6A championship

The Perry Pumas’ boys high school volleyball team won its third 6A state championship in the past five seasons on May 17, at Skyline High School in Mesa.

Perry, the No. 1 seed in the AIA 6A tournament, defeated No. 2 Highland, 3-2. It was the third time Highland has finished 6A runner-up since 2022, including a 2023 loss to Perry for the title.

The Pumas finished the season undefeated in AIA play, its only losses this season coming against out-of-state teams during mid-season tournaments.

Perry was led this season by several key players, including three who are all in the top 10 in hitting percentage in 6A: senior Caden Ledbetter, junior Logan Gray and sophomore Greyson Carter. Ledbetter was also No. 8 in blocks in the conference.

Three other conference championships were played on May 17 at Skyline.

No. 1 seed Campo Verde defeated No. 2 Arizona College Prep, 3-2, to win the 5A championship in a battle of East Sky region rivals. The win was Campo Verde’s second boys’ volleyball championship. The Coyotes also won in 2019.

In the 4A championship match, No. 3-seed ALA Queen Creek won its third state championship, defeating No. 8 Salpointe Catholic, 3-0. The Patriots also won the 4A title in 2021 and 2022. During the playoff tournament, ALA Queen Creek defeated No. 2 seed ALA Gilbert North, which had defeated the Patriots twice in the regular season.

In the 3A championship, No. 2 Northwest Christian defeated No. 1 ALA West Foothills, 3-2, to win its first boys volleyball championship, after finishing runner-up three times since 2021. ALA West Foothills was undefeated entering Saturday’s championship, having defeated Northwest Christian in the final regular-season match.

Last year, Arizona College Prep defeated Northwest Christian to win the 2024 4A title. Saturday’s match marked the first-ever 3A championship in boys’ high school volleyball. The AIA opted to reshuffle teams and create more competitive balance by adding a fourth conference during the offseason, as more schools and programs have been added across the state.

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Arizona

SB Nation Reacts: Arizona men’s basketball fans expecting deep NCAA Tournament run

Published

2 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

SB Nation Reacts: Arizona men’s basketball fans expecting deep NCAA Tournament run

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MARCH 14: Brayden Burries #5 of the Arizona Wildcats cuts down the net after defeating the Houston Cougars in the championship game of the Big 12 Tournament at T-Mobile Center on March 14, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

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Arizona

Will Arizona center Motiejus Krivas be picked in NBA Draft?

Published

14 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Will Arizona center Motiejus Krivas be picked in NBA Draft?

SAN DIEGO — At 7-foot-2, Arizona center Motiejus Krivas is one of the nation’s premier defensive centers. The junior out of Lithuania is a key part of the reason that Arizona forces its opponents to shoot their 2-pointers an average of 7.0 feet from the rim — the 11th highest mark in Division I. But for his NBA Draft stock, the question will be how valuable that skill set is in the modern NBA, given Krivas’ limited impact further from the basket. Here is where he ranks on a handful of notable big boards.

Tankathon: 51
The Athletic: 73
ESPN: 27
CBS: 30

This season, Krivas is Arizona’s fourth leading scorer, averaging 10.5 points per game on 58.2% shooting. He’s taken just 12 threes on the season, although he has made four of them. As for his impact elsewhere, he’s averaging 8.1 rebounds and an impressive 1.8 blocks per game. His profile is rounded out by 1.0 assists and 0.7 steals per contest.

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Arizona

Arizona State vs Virginia predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament First Four

Published

1 day ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Arizona State vs Virginia predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament First Four

The First Four of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament continues Thursday with a slate featuring No. 10 Arizona State vs. No. 10 Virginia on the two-game schedule.

Here is the latest on Thursday’s March Madness matchup, including expert picks from reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering the women’s NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

USA TODAY Studio IX: Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more

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