St. Johns Volleyball Heads to State Match in Tempe Saturday
St. Johns’ girls volleyball team advanced from a Nov. 4 2A play-in and is listed on the AIA state bracket to face Veritas Prep on Saturday, Nov. 8, at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe. The neutral-site matchup and AIA ticketing mean fans from Apache County should plan travel and ticket purchases in advance.
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St. Johns’ volleyball program will represent Apache County at the AIA state tournament after hosting and completing a 2A play-in on Nov. 4. The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) bracket lists St. Johns in a first-round state match against Veritas Prep set for Saturday, Nov. 8, at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, a pairing that is also reflected on school athletic pages and regional bracket coverage.
The listing on the AIA bracket confirms St. Johns’ advancement into the state tournament and moves the competition to a neutral-site venue in the Phoenix metro area. That shift changes logistics for families, students and supporters: travel arrangements, school transportation, time away from work or school and ticketing requirements are now central considerations for the community. AIA-managed ticketing will be used for the match, and neutral-site start times can differ from local schedules, so organizers advise fans to verify times and purchase access through AIA channels.
For the student-athletes, the state match offers increased visibility and competitive experience beyond conference play. For the wider community of Apache County, the team’s presence in a state-level game provides a moment of local pride and can influence booster fundraising and school spirit activities in the weeks ahead. Conversely, because the game is at a neutral site in Tempe, much of the immediate economic activity associated with a tournament day — concessions, parking revenue and foot traffic — will take place outside Apache County. Local businesses that typically benefit from home playoff games will miss that direct boost, while families traveling to Tempe may incur additional costs for transportation and, if needed, lodging.
This advancement underscores the role of school athletics in small communities and the trade-offs that come with centralized state tournaments. The AIA bracketing system centralizes championship play to larger venues to accommodate multiple schools and larger audiences, but it also concentrates ticket revenue and game-day spending in host communities.
Fans planning to attend should consult the AIA bracket and their school’s athletic page for the confirmed start time and ticketing instructions ahead of Saturday’s match. The matchup against Veritas Prep is the next step for St. Johns as the program pursues deeper postseason success and continued community support back home in Apache County.
