OREM — Sometimes vanilla can be pretty exciting.
Snow Canyon returned to the top of 3A volleyball with a five-set win over No. 1-ranked Morgan Thursday night using a combination of sharp serving and “vanilla” offense.
“We really stress being fundamentally sound,” Warriors coach Alaina Parker said. “That sounds pretty vanilla, but we do vanilla pretty well.”
Junior Alexsa “Crash” Parker and senior Jordan Gines combined for 44 kills in the thrilling five-set contest that ended 25-16, 25-15, 15-25, 22-25, 15-13. Parker had kills on the final three points for Snow Canyon, elevating the Warriors from a 12-12 tie to the win.
“It was just crazy,” Alaina Parker said. “In a match like that, it almost becomes a no holds barred desperation type play. It’s almost a different type of volleyball where everyone is reaching their very limit just to make the plays.”
Snow Canyon jumped out quick in the ultimate game, forging an 8-3 lead, then holding the advantage until 11-7. But behind the serving of Kennedy Wortman, the Trojans staged a comeback. Two kills, a dink and a block during Wortman’s service tied the game at 11-11 and left both teams just four points from a state championship.
The Warriors recaptured the lead on a kill by Gines to make it 12-11, but a service error knotted the score at 12-12. That’s when Crash Parker went to work. Her kill made it 13-12, though Morgan tied the score at 13-13 on a block at the net.
Parker then slammed a kill off a Morgan blocker’s hands to make it 14-13. The Warriors then earned a celebration and perhaps a ride on a fire truck when Parker took a loose ball at the net and crashed it deep into Morgan’s court. The Morgan defenders had no choice but to watch the spike land a foot inside the back line.
“We just talked about playing in the moment,” Alaina Parker said. “We told them they were writing their own story and they are the authors and can write what they want. I had confidence in them that they would get the job done.”
Early in the match, it looked like Snow Canyon would cruise easily to its sixth championship in the last nine seasons. Morgan had no answer for Parker and Gines as the Warriors dominated the first two games.
Even when Morgan took the third game, it seemed as if SC would bounce back and finish the Trojans off. The Warriors opened up an 8-5 advantage in Game 4, but Morgan countered with seven straight points to take a 12-8 advantage. The Trojans pushed the lead to 24-19 late in the game, but Snow Canyon got a couple of key blocks to close to within 24-22 before Morgan finally ended the game on a kill.
“Our defense was scrappy tonight,” Parker said .”Those blocks at the end of Game 4 I think helped us grab back a little of the momentum.”
Kodee Avery had 48 assists for the Warriors, who finish the year with an impressive 26-3 record. SC will lose five seniors heading into next year with the graduation of Gines, Avery, Madison Jensen, Maggie Root and All-Academic honoree Tylee Trevizo.
Earlier Thursday the Warriors defeated region foe Dixie in three straight 25-8, 25-4, 25-19. The Flyers were a surprise semifinalist after pulling two straight upsets on the tourney’s first day. Dixie was 0-2 on Thursday, also falling to Desert Hills.
The Thunder dropped a disappointing four-game match to Morgan early Thursday, 25-16, 25-17, 19-25, 25-19. Desert Hills bounced back to grab third place by defeating Dixie 25-21, 25-20, 16-25, 26-24. DH ends the year 20-11. Dixie end up 11-16.
Hurricane lost to Morgan on Thursday, but rebounded with an early win over North Sanpete, 25-12, 17-25, 25-22, 25-15. The Tigers had to settle for seventh place after losing to Union to close out the tournament, 25-23, 33-31, 27-25.
Enterprise gets second straight 2A VB title
The Lady Wolves successfully defended their 2A volleyball title Thursday with sweeps in the semifinals and finals at Utah Valley University’s UCCU Center.
Enterprise blasted past South Summit in the semifinals, 25-13, 25-11, 25-17. The Wolves then dismantled San Juan in quick fashion with a 25-22, 25-12, 25-19 sweep.
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Warrior Jordan Gines tips a ball during the state championship match, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Alexsa "Crash" Parker tips a ball during the state championship match, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News The Snow Canyon Warriors celebrate their state championship, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Snow Canyon setter Kodee Avery during the state championship match, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Alexsa "Crash" Parker (right) and Maggie Root (Left) defend against Morgan during the state championship match, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Madison Jensen digs during the state championship match, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Kodee Avery at the net during the state championship match, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Jordan Gines (front) and Maggie Root (behind) team up for a block during the state championship match, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Jordan Gines with a spike during the state championship match, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Snow Canyon hoists the championship trophy, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Dixie's DeAubrey Bowers (13) fires a shot into the Warrior defenders, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Emily Hamill spikes for Dixie, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Snow Canyon hitter Alexsa "Crash" Parker leaps for a shot against Dixie in the semi-finals, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Snow Canyon , wirth coach Alain Parker in the middle, celebrates a semifinal victory over Dixie, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Desert Hill's Katelyn Taylor with a dig during the semifinal match against Morgan, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Ollivia Leavitt (4) and Rachel Winters (7) defend a Morgan spike during the semifinal match, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Courtney Sheeran (8) with a spike for the Thunder during the semifinal match against Morgan, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Alex Garrett fires a shot for the Thunder against Morgan during the semifinal match, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Thunder defenders block a shot by a Morgan player during the semifinal match, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News Courtney Sheeran gets some hops for the Thunder during the semifinal match against Morgan, 2014 3A State Volleyball Tournament, Orem, Utah, Oct. 30, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
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No mention of the second award for having the most blonde hair?
Great pictures and great coverage! Thanks!
Don’t come into St George and have a celebration dance because you will be arrested by the Anti dance Swat Team
For a championship tournament, it looks like there are more bodies on the court than in the stands.
I thought the pictures could have been better.
You have no idea what you are talking about.
Maybe some beach volleyball pics?
It looks like no one in the stands because the fans are all on the court. It was a great showing by both schools! And a greater showing by both teams!
How would you know Jeff? I bet you weren’t even at the game. Please don’t speculate the whereabouts of the fans.
C’mon Frank, of course I was there. And even if I wasn’t, I know the SC fans always come down after they win or lose and sing the fight song along with the players and coaches! It’s a celebration of competition and hard work! Great school spirit! BTW, it’s Jeff Parker from Hurricane High School if you’d like to come by and learn something…
As usual FRAN, you are full of baloney, or something much more smelly. Excellent pictures. Love those tight shorts! 😉