43 OCTOBER 2023 fun with free admission or an appreciated $5 donation. House of Haunts is run by the Birkett family and is open from October 27-31. Although they haven’t released the theme for this season, it is safe to say it will be spookier than the last, according to daughter Caitlyn: “Every year, we take a section of the haunt and revamp it. I can’t give away this year’s new addition, but I can say we’re super excited with how it’s turned out and can’t wait for the public to see it,” Caitlyn said. FEAR FARM 6801 N. 99th Ave., Glendale fearfarm.com Fear Farm Haunted Fairgrounds & Corn Maze has created three attractions this year: The Infestation, The Hollow House and The Rot Shop. The Infestation takes participants back into a region under quarantine where mutated team members of Hades Corp are on the loose. The Rot Shop boasts murderous prisoners who have gotten loose. Watch out for sharp corners and chainsaw-carrying maniacs on the loose. The Hollow House corn maze features Mr. Howdy, a psychotic clown, who sets up torturous traps throughout the maze. Tickets are $30 per person. 13TH FLOOR HAUNTED HOUSE 2814 W. Bell Road, Phoenix 13thflooraz.com The 13 th Floor has three terrifying houses open for the season: The Deadlands, The Repossessed, and The Depths of Darkness. After being rated the top five most terrifying haunted houses in the country, this year’s attractions are back to scare, starting with a post-apocalyptic themed house where mutations of a devastating virus roam. The Repossessed features Mara, a nun who has entered this realm to wreak havoc over the house, unleashing demonic domination. The Depths of Darkness is an ancient deep-sea nightmare-theme where possessed villagers answer a demonic calling and seek to torture all who enter. The 13th Floor is open until November 4. Tickets range from $25-$32. MOUNT MAYHEM HAUNT 1740 E. Purdue Ave., Phoenix mountmayhemhaunt.com This haunted house is held at a private residence in Phoenix and put together by the kids and family members that live there – it takes 150 hours for the whole haunt to come to life! This year’s theme is Psykosis, where participants must escape the psychopaths carrying chains, knives, and more. The haunted house is complimentary, but donations are welcome. Registration is open from October 27-31. SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUARE 6828 E. CAMELBACK RD. SCOTTSDALE AZ 85251 602-834-2700 Woodbridge Interiors, formerly Thomasville & More is Arizona’s destination for quality fine home furnishings, featuring a wide variety of trusted national brand names including Tommy Bahama Home, Stickley, Lexington, Century, Hooker Furniture, Bernhardt, Natuzzi, American Leather & many more. ask about our complimentary in-home design | Mon-Sat 10-5 Sun 11-5 | woodbridgeinteriors.com hurry in during our fall sale!

44 OCTOBER 2023 By Jennifer Marshall Volleyball is in full swing at area high schools. Read on to see what Arcadia, Veritas and Xavier have been working on so far this season. ARCADIA Seven players returned at Arcadia High, giving last year’s 4A runner-ups a boost of experience and leadership, with five new team members providing a jolt of fresh energy and enthusiasm. The Lady Titans will play 17 games and two tournaments in 2023-24. The 4A Desert Sky Division team is in first place with 13 wins and three losses. “Our biggest weakness is probably expecting perfection from ourselves from the beginning of the season, but the players are doing a great job coming together and helping each other continue to grow,” Coach Adrian Chang said. “I always look for opportunities for the athletes to learn and grow through the game and in life as the season goes on. I try and find a balance of teacher skill and allowing for problem-solving and growth opportunities.” Senior captain Zoe Leonard said she’s most excited about “getting to play with an amazing team, hopefully winning conference and making it to state!” “This season, I’m most excited to play every game with everything I have and not be scared of anything,” senior captain Taylor Soule said. “I’m excited to continuously put in extra time in the gym and get back to the state championship court while bonding and learning more about my new teammates.” Upcoming games will be played against Mesquite, Saguaro and Seton Catholic to round out the regular season. VERITAS PREP As of our print deadline, the Falcons have seven wins and seven losses and are in fourth place in the 2A Metro Division. “We have a lot of hitters who can score points for us,” Veritas Coach Brooks Dockter said. “We have struggled at times when the game gets a little chaotic, and we have to take back control of the court. That’s been a focus for us the last couple of weeks.” Dockter said that the team’s goal, every year, is to make a deep postseason run. “Our coaches, at every level, are intense but also know how to bring humor to the situation. At the end of the day, we hope our athletes know how much we care about them and their role on the team,” Dockter said. Upcoming games against Cicero Prep, Scottsdale Prep and Rancho Solano Prep will hopefully give the team a boost. XAVIER PREP Xavier opened their volleyball season on August 29 and will conclude in November, when, hopefully, the Gators head to the state championship. So far, they have eight wins, zero losses and are in first place in the 6A Premier Division. Coach Lamar-Renee Bryant said the team “needs to continue to work hard to be in system with our first contact and stay confident in the good times and bad.” While the whole team plays a part in succeeding, Bryant said Camila Cornejo Farmer, Elle McCreery, Finley Workman, Tessa Larkin, Olivia Lenz, Mia Accommazzo and Viv Hickman help the team reach their goals on the court. Bryant works to balance the mental, physical and emotional states – her key life skills for success. And for this season, their main goal, in addition to remaining healthy, is to add to their rich traditions and win. “It would be much easier to demand specific actions from players at specific times or situations, but I believe that a player should be provided an opportunity to make decisions, both good and bad,” Bryant said. She said she tries to provide players with situational recommendations but insists they decide what to do in the end. “It is my job to analyze their results and provide feedback, positive and negative, and try to assist them in learning from past experiences so that in the future they might make the best decisions available to them,” Bryant said. These volleyballers are set for success (back) Coach Chang, Josie Fox, Taylor Soule, Zoe Leonard, Lane Sheedy, Katie Musselmann, Avery Nadolski. (front) Alexa Helms, Brooke Mitchell, Elle Marshall-Inman, Bella Scaramella, Indie Ewell, Tessa Dwyer-Kim. (back) Taylor Nicks, Jill Maschue, Mary Hamann, Regan Brotherton. (middle) Coach Sarah Kersey, McKenzie Perrault, Sara Escobar, Alyssa Jenkins, Vivian Keery, Bella Espinosa, Sydney Mishkin. (front) Jaz Cobb, Joanna Llusco. (back) Tessa Larkin, Courtney Snopko, Annemarie O’Gara, Elle McCreery, Finley Workman. (middle) Kaeyln Putz, Vivian Hickman, Reese Bozak, Jane Burkhardt, Selah O’Connor, Camila Cornejo-Farmer, Holly Matchinsky. (front) Chineze Gray, Mia Accommazzo, Mattea Saunders, Olivia Lenz. PHOTO: AUDREA WALSHIRE PHOTO COURTESY OF BROOKS DOCKTER PHOTO COURTESY OF LAMARRENEE BRYANT T H E XAVIER EFFECT Where Young Women Finish Strong xcp.org Xavier College Preparatory is a Catholic community that strives to prepare young women of faith with knowledge, skills, and integrity to meet the challenges of a changing global society in a positive and productive manner celebrating unity. 8th Grade Day Fri., Oct. 27, 2023 | 9:30 a.m. - 1:0 0 p.m. Open House Sun., Oct. 29, 2023 | 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. All are welcome Admissions/Placement Exam Sat., Dec. 2, 2023 or Sat., Dec. 9, 2023 at 7:30 a.m. Registration for exam and application information at xcp.org. 9th Grade applications are due Tues., Jan. 16, 2024. Affording a Xavier Education Financial Aid Workshops available to interested parents during the Entrance Exam Testing, Dec. 2, 2023 and Dec. 9, 2023.