File photo from 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
OREM – Morgan, Snow Canyon and Desert Hills are right where everyone thought they would be after the first day of the 3A State Volleyball Tournament — in the semifinals. As for the fourth semifinalist, well, the Tooele Buffaloes are crashing the party.
The Utah State Volleyball Tournament completed its first day of games Wednesday night, with Region 9 teams representing southern Utah very well. All four teams local made it to the quarterfinals and two teams are in the semifinals.
The Snow Canyon Warriors and Desert Hills Thunder were expected to be there coming in ranked as the second and third best teams in the state. They join No. 1-ranked Morgan and the surprise of the tournament so far, the Tooele Buffaloes. Tooele finished third in Region 10 and were ranked 11th in 3A with an overall record of 12-15.
The Pine View Panthers and Dixie Flyers both won their first matches, but could not sustain the momentum in the second round. The Flyers ran into Morgan in the quarterfinals and lost in straight sets. The Panthers outlasted and pulled off a mild upset against Region 12 champion and last year’s semifinalist North Sanpete in the first round. The match went five sets. In the later game, Pine View was probably seen as the favorite against the higher-seeded Tooele. The match again went five sets, but this time the Panthers were on the losing end.
Here’s a roundup of Wednesday’s action at the UCCU Center at Utah Valley University.
FIRST ROUND Pine View 3, North Sanpete 2
The best matchup of the first round was between the Hawks and the Panthers. The Hawks came out strong and took the first two sets, 25-23, 25-11. North Sanpete was so dominant in the second set after a close first that it appeared that the Panthers had either thrown in the towel or had lost all momentum. But Pine View rebounded with close victories in the second sets 25-22, 25-22 before closing out the match with a 15-12 win.
Snow Canyon 3, Canyon View 0
The Warriors swept easily by Canyon View in straight sets, 25-9, 25-12, 25-13. Crash Parker led the Warriors with 26 kills. Nikenna Durante had 16 digs. Shaylee Reed led with 15 assists.
Dixie 3, Carbon 1
The Flyers pushed Carbon to the losers bracket with a win in four sets, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15, 25-22. Katie Fisher and DeAubrey Bowers had 17 and 11 kills, respectively. Hannah Nyberg led the team with 16 digs.
Desert Hills 3, Richfield 0
The Thunder joined Snow Canyon and Morgan as the only three teams to win in straight sets in the first round, 25-17, 25-18, 25-23. Rachel Winters had 17 kills. Tierra Orr had 10 kills and 24 digs. Hailee Tanner had 32 assists and 11 digs.
QUARTERFINALS
Tooele 3, Pine View 2
Tooele pulled off the victory 25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 19-25, 15-10, though Pine View made a late push by dominating the fourth game.
Snow Canyon 3, Stansbury 0
The Warriors played nearly flawless. In short order, they dispatched Stansbury 25-14, 25-15, 25-12. Crash Parker had 20 kills and 13 digs in the match. Durante contributed 11 kills and 11 digs. Reed had 22 assists.
Morgan 3, Dixie 0
The Flyers ran into a well-oiled machine. The Trojans matched Snow Canyon in winning every set of the first two rounds, 25-13, 25-7, 25-16. Fisher and Bowers had seven and six kills, respectively.
Desert Hills 3, Union 2
In the late game of the winners bracket, the Thunder had to take extra sets to defeat the Region 10 champions, 19-25, 25-19, 25-23, 16-25, 15-7. Rachel Winters had 21 kills and 11 digs. Tierra Orr had 16 kills and 21 digs. Hailee Tanner had 45 assists and 11 digs.
For Thursday’s matchups in the semifinals, Snow Canyon will face Tooele on Court 2 at the UCCU center. Morgan will face Desert Hills on Court 3. Both matchups will be at 11 a.m. The losers of the semifinals square off in a consolation game at 1:30 p.m. on Court 2. The championship will be held on Court 3 at 5 p.m.
Pine View will face Stansbury in a consolation match at 10 a.m. on Court 2 and Dixie will also battle in consolation bracketing against Union at 10 a.m. on Court 1. The two would meet for fifth place at 1:30 p.m. on Court 1 if they can get wins in the early games.
Desert Hills' Rachel Winters (7), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Alexsa "Crash" Parker (13), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Megan Hintze for Pine View, 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's DeAubrey Bowers (13), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Alexsa "Crash" Parker (13), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Nikenna Durante (9), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Nikenna Durante (9), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Alexsa "Crash" Parker (13), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Shaylee Reed (12), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Pine View's Cassidy Murdock (8) and Megan Hintze(20), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Cierra Costa for Pine View, 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Sammi Johnston (11), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Nikenna Durante (9), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Alexsa "Crash" Parker (13), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Shaylee Reed (12), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Nikenna Durante (9), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Natasha Fiame (27) for Pine View, 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Ciera Costa for Pine View, 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Pine View celebrates their upset victory over North Sanpete, 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Pine View celebrates their victory over North Sanpete, 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Rachel Winters (7), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Tiera Orr (10), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Lauren Beatty (26) and Ella Burrows (24), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Tyler Stilson (5), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Ella Burrows (24), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Abracia Payton (2), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Brooklyn Blanchard (3), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Brooklyn Wright (15), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Hannah Nyberg (6), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Brooklyn Wright (15) sets for DeAbrey Bowers (13), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Tyler Stilson (5), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Madison Clark (12), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Tiera Orr (10), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Hailee Tanner (6), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Katelyn Taylor (5), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Jennifer Harris (11), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Alexsa "Crash" Parker (13), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Nikenna Durante (9), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Shaylee Reed (12), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Shaylee Reed (12), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Samantha Johnston (11), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Rachel Winters (7), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Jennifer Harris (11), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Jessica Harris (13), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Rachel Winters (7), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Jennifer Harris (11), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Madison Clark (12), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Rachel Winters (7), 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 28, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darren Cole recently returned to sportswriting after a 20-plus year hiatus. While pursuing other studies, he developed an early passion for sports writing as a senior writer and sports editor for the Ricks College Scroll in 1988-89. Darren has spent the last 20 years writing legal memorandi and appellate briefs. In addition to his legal career, he has also taught legal and criminal justice courses at the university level for nine years as an adjunct professor. Darren is married to wife Lisa, has two sons and is a confessed sports junkie.