Wealthy Excessive College’s volleyball staff was the primary to punch its ticket to Saturday’s 1A semifinals sport by clobbering Bryce Valley and Monticello in 3-0 matches in Richfield Friday.
“We’ve actually targeted on our fundamentals this yr,” stated head coach Wendy Lamborn. “It’s a serve and obtain sport. In the event you can serve and when you can obtain, you possibly can deal with the remainder.”
The Rebels racked up probably the greatest data in 1A volleyball this yr at 20-6, completed the common season as the highest seed within the RPI and went undefeated in area play.
“We work onerous,” Lamborn stated “It takes a whole lot of endurance. We now have an amazing bunch group of women.”
Darlene Peterson has been serving to to guide the cost this season because the staff’s outdoors hitter, Lamborn stated. Nonetheless, in the course of the event to this point, Elly Argyle has additionally confirmed to be invaluable for Wealthy.
“They’re our two seniors and so they’ve actually stepped up,” Lamborn stated. “Their cheer is, ‘Course of,’ and to them which means you do your fundamentals, you do your fundamentals and every thing else will come.”
In terms of the semifinals and finals Saturday, Wealthy has a easy technique.
“We have to do what our staff does greatest,” Lamborn stated. “If we do this, we may be actually lethal.”
Wealthy will play its area foe Tabiona within the semifinals.
“We’ve performed them twice and haven’t been capable of get them but,” stated Tabiona head coach Kaylie Defa. “However we’re enjoying our greatest volleyball now.”
Tabiona outlasted Inexperienced River in a 25-16, 25-22, 17-25, 25-21 match earlier than beating Wayne 25-13, 25-17, 25-18 Friday afternoon.
“You simply do what you possibly can,” Defa stated. “Maintain each level clear and allow them to make the errors.”
The Tigers got here into the event because the No. 4 seed and have needed to take care of some added challenges.
“We simply inform them to be robust,” Defa stated. “We’ve had some accidents and a few sick women this week and we solely have 12 on our roster. Any lady could also be thrown into any place at any time.”
Defa stated seniors Mercedes Roberts and Taylor Thomas have been key to the staff this yr, whereas junior Addy Allred has come out because the staff’s greatest hitter.
“The event is actually so huge open that whoever reveals up might take all of it,” Defa stated. “I really feel like we now have simply nearly as good of a shot as anybody.
“We now have a small group that’s keen to do no matter it takes.”
On the opposite aspect of the bracket, Panguitch was capable of route Tintic and Wendover, each in three units.
“We now have a whole lot of women with actually good ball management who can put it away when they should,” stated Panguitch head coach Troy Norris.
The Bobcats have constructed an virtually similar file to Wealthy, going 22-6 general and 8-0 in area play.
Wealthy was capable of beat Panguitch three weeks in the past, which resulted within the Rebels taking the too spot within the RPI.
5 seniors lead Panguitch on the ground, together with Adelaide Englestead, Lexie Palmer, Hailie Wilcox, Alexis Allen and Debbie Jean Henrie.
“We’ve been counting on them so much,” Norris stated. “They're all peaking when they should.“
Subsequent for Panguitch is a rematch in opposition to area rival Piute.
“We all know Piute is an excellent staff that’s been coming alongside,” Norris stated, including that whereas Panguitch beat them earlier this yr, the Thunderbirds have elevated their sport and may’t be missed.
Piute’s enchancment was obvious because it knocked off Valley 25-19, 25-18, 25-22 after which took out the No. 3 seed within the event, Manilla, 25-23, 25-11, 25-19 Friday afternoon.
“The RPI doesn’t all the time give a real score of the place every thing is in my view,” stated Piute head coach Eric Jesson. “Our file could be very deceiving.”
Piute began the event because the eleventh seed. The T-birds have have been making an attempt a whole lot of various things by means of the season to refine their sport whereas coping with accidents and determining find out how to fill voids left by final yr’s seniors.
“My setter Tara Morgan was our greatest hitter final yr,” Jesson stated. “Once we began enjoying our greatest was when she began setting all the way in which round. She actually makes everybody round her higher.”
Jesson stated the staff additionally has an amazing hitter in Brooklyn Jessen and a pacesetter in libero Cooper Fautin. Vallee Northington has additionally stepped as much as assist Piute because the season progressed, Jesson stated.
“We’re an excellent staff. We are able to hit effectively and we are able to go effectively,” Jesson stated. “I've a whole lot of respect for Panguitch. They’ve constructed an amazing program.
“Positive it’s a rivalry, however all you really need is the prospect.”