What makes the 2015 Division III state girls volleyball tournament interesting is not the number of teams in it (32), but the quality brought overall and specifically by two sections.

Those sections are 8 and 4, comprising nearly half the field (14 teams). They are spread throughout the bracket, but for the most part have faced each other rarely in cross-section play during the regular season. That makes for intrigue when they pair up as the tournament progresses. The tournament opens Thursday Nov. 5 and continues Friday Nov. 6 and Friday Nov. 7 with all matches at Prescott Valley Event Center. in Prescott Valley.  First round is Thursday, second and third rounds on Friday and semis and finals on Saturday. D-III was aligned this year with 80 volleyball teams, the most ever for one division. Parker coach Marie Maya sums up the tourney succinctly.

"Whoever wins this season will really have something to brag about," Maya said.

The top 10 seeds in order (section in parentheses): Parker (2), Chandler Prep (8), Horizon Honors (8), Greenway (4), Agua Fria (4), Florence (8), Snowflake (5), Valley Christian (8), Verrado (4) and Desert Edge (4). Parker coach Daniel Maya sums up the tourney in a nutshell. Here's a thumbnail resume of each:

#1 Parker is paced by four seniors -- outside hitter Mariah Sharpe, Audie Merrick, Jailynn Butler and Kristina Brice. Sharpe has played setter two years, middle last year and is an outside hitter this year -- the Broncs most skilled player. Parker was the only team to win all its power-ranking matches (17-0). Parker played one top-10 team in a power-ranking match, beating Horizon Honors. It lost to Chandler Prep, Verrado and Florence twice in invitationals.

#2 Chandler Prep brings a veteran squad with eight returning players from 2014. Three senior stand out and are team captains - middle Jessica Bell, setter Julia Turpin and outside hitter Emily Stanfield.Chandler Prep's lone power-ranking loss was to Horizon Honors, which ended up section champ because of that win. Chandler Prep was 16-1 in power-ranking matches and posted a 5-3 record against top-10 teams.

#3 Horizon Honors certainly has something to boast about winning the section 8 title. The Eagles want more. Leading the way are team captains Alexa Smythe, who leads the team in kills and outside hitter Lindsay Zumwalt, a precise hitter and team leader in aces. Middles Alexis Gomes and Danielle Moran, setter Michelle Ogle, libero Giulana Castronova and digs leader Erica Kendree leave little weakness for the opposition. Horizon Honors was 15-2 in power-ranking matches and 3-4 vs. top-10 teams.

#4 Greenway managed the best overall record of any team in the division at 35-1. The Demons won Section 4 and certainly grab attention with their one-defeat record. Senior outside Sadie Anderson and junior setter Jordyn Nelson are team captains and three-year varsity starters. The addition of Northwest Christian transfer Julisa Carrizosa and freshman libero Mykenna Nelson (Jordyn's sister) augments the lineup. Greenway's only loss was late to Verrado, but the Demons finished up with a huge win over Agua Fria to net the section title in the regular-season's final week. Greenway was 6-1 in matches vs. top-10 teams.

#5 Agua Fria brought a veteran team to the court this season and performed like it. The Owls were 16-1 in power-ranking matches, losing only in the final week to Greenway. Agua Fria is led by senior middle/hitter Morgan Weeg and a young, but talented setter in sophomore Mariah Monroe. Agua Fria was 2-2 in matches vs. top-10 opponents.

#6 Florence finished the year winning its own invitational and was able to knock off Parker in that tourney's title match. Florence defeated Parker twice in the tourney in best-of-three matches. The Gophers promptly followed up that triumph with a loss via sweep to Valley Christian. They are led by senior Kenzie DeVries, a standout hitter back from missing last year due to a torn ACL and senior middle Alexis Villalobos. Villalobos is tough to defend due to agility and attack placement. Florence managed a 4-2 record vs. top-10 teams.

#7 Snowflake captured the section 5 title and posted a 16-1 power-ranking record. The Lobos rely on senior outside Sydney Olsen and senior middle Shelby Reidhead for offense and operate with two setters -- Melissa Eich and Eilee Penrod. Eich and Penrod have improved steadily to give Olsen and Reidhead better opportunities. Snowflake played fewer games against top-10 teams, going 0-1 (loss to Greenway).

#8 Valley Christian duked it out with Chandler Prep, Horizon Honors and Florence for section 8 bragging rights and fell just short. The Trojans lost to Chandler Prep and Horizon Honors, but were outstanding in sweeping Florence. Valley Christian may be the youngest team contending for the title with one senior starter, the lone senior on the team. That's setter Kinsley England, who makes the attack go. England has two primary hitters to feed in Courtney Dyer and Cici Collins. Defensive specialist Breezy Husband is a vocal leader and solid defender. Valley Christian was 1-3 vs. top-10 teams. 

#9 Verrado produced the most wins in the program's short history (five years), a sign things are going well. The Vipers rely on aggressive serving and power supplied on the attack by seniors Celine White and Candace Lacour, the team's leader in aces. Verrado is deep and can attack from all positions. Verrado finished 31-2 and was 4-2 vs. top-10 teams.

#10 Desert Edge finished fourth in section 4, nothing to hang its head over.  The Scorpions rely on three-year starter Marissa Ellis, an outside-middle and their best athlete and most versatile player.  Senior captain and outside Samari Williams and sophomore Jenessy Cain are the top offensive threats. Junior Calista Bandin (3-year starter) sets and brings a powerful serve. Sophomore opposite Rylee Brown is solid all-around and also sets. Desert Edge was 1-6 vs. top-10 teams.

The defending D-III state champ is #11 Monument Valley. The Mustangs compiled a 15-2 record in power-ranking matches, mostly vs. schools in the northern part of the state and were 20-6 overall. Monument Valley was 0-3 vs. top-10 teams and runner-up to Snowflake in section 5.