Region 9 volleyball: Warriors sweep DH, take sole possession of first place

Nikenna Durante (9) hits for Snow Canyon, Snow Canyon vs. Desert Hills, Volleyball, St. George, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – In the battle of Region 9’s last two unbeaten teams, the Snow Canyon Warriors came out in sole possession of first place with a convincing sweep of Desert Hills Thursday night in The Jungle, 25-10, 25,16, 25-22.

snow-canyon-logoDesert-Hills-sm“Tonight was the first time that our entire team, from the starters to the subs, from the top players to the role players, all played their best,” said Snow Canyon head coach Alaina Parker. “We played a good team and our players rose to the occasion.”

Snow Canyon vs. Desert Hills, Volleyball, St. George, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon vs. Desert Hills, Volleyball, St. George, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

The first set saw both teams go back and forth initially with Desert Hills trailing the Warriors by two early 7-5. After a side out, however, Nikenna Durante served for eight straight points for the first big run of the game to give SCHS a commanding 16-5 lead. Ally Dunston followed immediately with five serves of her own and the Warriors lead grew to 22-6 and closed out the set shortly after.

“In the first set, we served extremely well,” said Parker. “We did not have very many aces, but we put our serves in spots where they had difficulty forming productive attacks.”

The second set again started with both teams staying close. Jessica Harris scored two points on serve to pull the Thunder even at 12-12. After two side outs, the score knotted again at 13. Durante would then score six points on serve to give the Warriors a deep cushion 20-13. The Warriors closed out the set 5-3 for the win.

The Thunder looked to get one back in the third. They jumped out to a five-point lead, 17-12. The Thunder’s Madison Clark scored six points on serve during the run. Crash Parker brought the Warriors back. After a side out for SCHS pulled the score to 19-15, Parker would get the Warriors their first lead since early in the set 20-19.

Snow Canyon's Alexa Parker (13) and Desert Hills' Jenny Harris (11) and Jessica Harris (13), Snow Canyon vs. Desert Hills, Volleyball, St. George, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon’s Alexa Parker (13) and Desert Hills’ Jenny Harris (11) and Jessica Harris (13), Snow Canyon vs. Desert Hills, Volleyball, St. George, Utah, Sept. 24, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

“Crash saw a weakness in their defense,” said Coach Parker. “She took advantage and got some crucial points for us.”

Mattie Esplin continued success for the Warriors on serve to give the Warriors their largest lead 23-20 en route to the 25-22 win.

Individually for Snow Canyon, Crash Parker had a double-double with 24 kills and 14 digs. Durante joined her with 13 kills and 13 digs. She also had four service aces. Shaylee Reed led the team with 36 assists. For the Thunder Rachel Winters had a double double with 12 kills and 14 digs. Hailee Tanner had 19 assists.

The loss was Desert Hills’ first. They drop to 6-1, 3-1 in Region 9. The Thunder will host Cedar next Tuesday. Snow Canyon moves to 8-2 overall and remains undefeated 4-0 in region. Snow Canyon will host Hurricane on Tuesday.

Dixie 3 Hurricane 0

dixie-smhurricane-smThe Flyers swept Hurricane 25-9, 25-19, 30-28. Brooklyn Wright scored nine service aces in the match. Outside hitters Karie Fisher and Tyler Stilson had eight and six kills respectively. Libero Abracia Peyton recorded nine digs. Dixie evens its region record to 2-2, 7-8 overall. Hurricane falls to 1-3, 2-7. Dixie will host Pine View on Tuesday. Hurricane travels to Snow Canyon.

Pine View 3 Cedar 2

Cedar put up a good fight, but ultimately the Panthers prevailed, 25-19, 22-25, 15-25, 25-16, 15-10.

Pine-view-smcedar-smSarah Pierce led the Panthers with 15 kills. Cassidy Murdock had 36 assists. Cyndee Mcguire recorded 11 digs. With the win, the Panthers keep pace with Dixie and move to 2-2, 15-9 overall. Cedar falls to 0-4, 7-7 overall.

“Ashley Vanfleet led the team in kills and was consistent throughout,” said Cedar head coach Nicole Anglin. “Katelyn Armstrong and Fabienne Young dominated at the new with blocks. Serve receive was again our downfall.”

Region 9 Standings

Region 9 W L pct. W L pct.
Snow Canyon 4 0 1.000 7 2 .778
Desert Hills 3 1 .750 6 1 .857
Dixie 2 2 .500 7 8 .467
Pine View 2 2 .333 15 9 .609
Hurricane 1 3 .250 2 7 .222
Cedar 0 4 .000 7 7 .538

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

 

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