After two months of preseason and region play, virtually nothing has changed in the 3A, 2A and 1A classifications as the state volleyball championships prepare to get underway on Friday. All three teams that are currently ranked No. 1 and were picked in the preseason as teams to beat, Delta, Morgan and Rich, remain that way as each team gets ready to defend the state titles they won a year ago.
While the teams to beat haven't changed this season, the way to beat them in the state championship has - at least for the 3A and 2A tournaments.Both tourneys, along with the 5A and 4A tournaments, have had their format changed to a true double-elimination tournament. This means that all teams have the possibility of making it to the championship game until they have lost two games - much the same way the state baseball and softball tournaments are run. The 1A tournament has kept the old format because logistics and the amount of travel involved would not make the change feasible.
Here now is a brief look at each of the tournaments:
Class 3A - While picked second to Region 11 rival Emery in the preseason, the Rabbits staked their claim to the No. 1 spot midway through region play and never relinquished it. Led by last year's MVP Chelle Curtis, Delta went undefeated in region play this season and is shooting for its ninth state volleyball title in the last 16 years.
Expected to give Delta its strongest challenge in the tournament is Emery. The Spartans, paced by the strong middle attack of McKelle Stilson and Adrianne Bradley, lost a pair of heartbreakers to the Rabbits during region play and hope a third meeting will be the charm.
Ranked third, Dixie enters the tournament as the undefeated Region 9 champion. Outside of the region though, the Flyers struggled and will get a strong test from Carbon in the first round. Lehi and Wasatch are the best teams representing Region 10, with the Wasps getting the honor of meeting Delta in the first round.
The tournament is being played at College of Eastern Utah with the championship game set for 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Class 2A - Morgan has shown it is the class of this classification, going through Region 12 teams without a blemish, despite having teams gunning for a win over the reigning state champion.
"It's always tougher to be the defending state champion," Morgan head coach Liz Wiscombe said. "But we've got a good group of players that get along well together and that's 99 percent of it."
The Trojans can expect strong fan support should they make it to the championship match. The top-ranked Morgan football team had its Saturday game time moved to 11 a.m. so it would finish in time for fans to travel south and cheer the volleyball team on.
Having not seen any Region 13 teams play this year, Wiscombe is not quite sure what to expect - and the Region 13 teams might not be sure either.
North Sevier won the region regular season title but finished third in the region tournament. Monticello, which placed fifth in region play with a 5-4 mark, won the region tournament and could be the surprise team of this tournament as well.
Spanish Fork High School is the host of the 2A tournament with Saturday's championship game scheduled for 4 p.m.
Class 1A - The top-ranked Rich Rebels are not only shooting for another state title, but a state record as well. Having commandeered the last four state titles, the Rebels are tied with Weber for the most consecutive championships won. One more championship would break the record and give Rich its sixth first-place trophy in the last nine years.
Rebel head coach Cindy Stuart feels that any pressure her team has to break the record doesn't come from outside sources.
"I think the kids put the pressure on themselves," said Stuart. "None of them want to be the first class not to win it."
As it does every year, Region 16 rival Duchesne gave Rich a fight in its three matches this year but couldn't come up with a victory. The Eagles took the Rebels to three games in the region tournament before finally falling.
Undefeated Region 15 champion Wayne, along with Panguitch and Valley, hope they each get a chance to shoot down the Rebels bid for the record. Salt Lake Lutheran and Manila should make the biggest mark of teams from Region 14 in the tournament.
Southern Utah University hosts this tournament with the championship game slated for 5 p.m. Saturday.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Prep volleyball
3A STATE TOURNAMENT
At College of Eastern Utah
Nov. 1-2
First Round
Lehi vs. Union, 9 a.m.
Snow Canyon vs. Emery, 10:15 a.m.
Dixie vs. Carbon, 2:15 p.m.
Delta vs. Wasatch, 3:30 p.m.
2A STATE TOURNAMENT
At Spanish Fork High
Nov. 1-2
First Round
Morgan vs. South Sevier, 9:30 a.m.
Beaver vs. Rowland Hall, 10:45 a.m.
Monticello vs. Millard, noon
No. Summit vs. No. Sevier, 1:15 p.m.
1A STATE TOURNAMENT
At Southern Utah University
Nov. 1-2
First Round
Upper Bracket
S.L. Lutheran vs. Panguitch, 11 a.m.
Duchesne vs. St. Joseph, 12:15 p.m.
Mon. Valley vs. Wendover, 1:30 p.m.
Wayne vs. Wasatch Academy, 2:45 p.m.
Lower Bracket
Rich vs. West Desert, 11 a.m.
Escalante vs. Int. Christian, 12:15 p.m.
Valley vs. Tabiona, 1:30 p.m.
Manila vs. Piute, 2:45 p.m.