Wealthy celebrates its 1A volleyball state championship David Anderson
It was a five-set battle, however when the ultimate ball bounced, Wealthy had captured the 1A state volleyball title Saturday night time on the Sevier Valley Middle in Richfield.
“I feel that’s the toughest recreation we’ve ever performed in our total lives,” mentioned Wendy Lamborn, head coach of the Wealthy Woman Rebels. “They deserve it. They're such an ideal workforce and have labored so onerous collectively by means of a variety of ups and downs.”
The match began with Wealthy successful the primary set 25-23. The Woman Rebels then appeared to settle in as they led many of the approach within the second set, taking the win in that one 25-20.
Panguitch was not going to let it's straightforward, successful the subsequent two 25-17 and 25-14.
“Panguitch is a superb workforce,” Lamborn mentioned. “They blocked us so much higher than we anticipated, however we stepped as much as the plate lastly.”
Within the ultimate recreation of the match, Wealthy’s women had been in a position to overcome an early Parowan edge to cement the win and their place as state champions 15-13.
“They deserve it. They're such an ideal workforce and have labored so onerous collectively by means of a variety of ups and downs.” — Wealthy head coach Wendy Lamborn
“Earlier within the season we performed a workforce that was a big-time rival of ours, and we bought down two video games to none,” Lamborn mentioned. “I feel that recreation turned it round for us. To know that it doesn’t matter, you may come again and win.”
All year long, Wealthy’s women had been centered on what they known as, “the method.”
“The method was to get all the best way to state,” mentioned junior Aeva Ellsworth. “Which means coming collectively as a workforce, working by means of all our issues and trusting one another.”
Ultimately, Ellsworth mentioned the method paid off.
“This implies every little thing,” Ellsworth mentioned of hoisting the state championship trophy overhead. “We needed to preserve our attitudes up by means of every little thing this 12 months.”
“I can’t even describe how I’m feeling proper now,” mentioned junior Kasey Wilson, who mentioned she’s been enjoying the sport for the reason that fourth grade. “Our coaches and workforce have labored their butts off to win this state title. I’m so grateful for the coaches who've pushed us.”
Discovering a approach to imagine in themselves was necessary, particularly headed into the ultimate set, in keeping with junior Hannah Scott
“We got here into this and we weren’t going to let it go,” Scott mentioned.
Outdoors hitter Darlene Peterson, senior, was a key part to the season’s success, with over 330 kills.
“It took so much for us to play as one,” Peterson mentioned. “We’re nearer than ever and I feel that’s why we received.”
Peterson mentioned it’s not specializing in how the sport ends that’s necessary, however the best way to get to the tip of it that issues. She mentioned the workforce set incremental targets throughout every set, rating 5, then 10, then 15. “That helped us with the method of successful every recreation.”
When confronted with the potential of dropping the ultimate recreation of the 12 months, Peterson mentioned the workforce saved a constructive affirmation going — “we will do it.”
That is Wealthy’s 18th volleyball title and first since 2016.