The battle for supremacy begins for 32 teams in two classifications when the 5A and 4A state volleyball tournaments start Tuesday.
First-round matches will be held at various school sites across the state before the tournaments wrap up Friday and Saturday at Utah Valley State College. Both tournaments will feature a double-elimination format, with a one-game playoff being used if the final two teams end up with one loss each.The 5A classification will look to fill its empty champion's seat, left vacant when last year's winner, Highland, moved down to the 4A ranks this year. There has yet to be a repeat winner in the short four-year existence of Class 5A, but the top-ranked Skyline Eagles, who won the title in 1994, hope to change that history note.
The Eagles have been ranked No. 1 all season and easily soared past their competition in going unbeaten in Region 1. Skyline opens the tournament by hosting West Jordan, with the winner advancing to meet the winner of the Alta-Layton opener.
Second-ranked Mountain View would love nothing better than to become the fifth 5A champion in five years. The Bruins also went undefeated in region play but faced stiffer competition in its Region 3 foes.
Third-ranked and Region 2 champion Bingham hosts Cottonwood in its opening match but faces a possible second-round meeting with fourth-ranked Orem.
The 4A tournament could prove to be vey interesting as the second-ranked Highland Rams look to win a title for the second-straight year.
A strong preseason favorite to win it all, the Rams suddenly looked vulnerable after dropping two matches early in region play while star Logan Tom was out with an injury. But since Tom's return, Highland has regrouped and handily defeated Region 5 champion Bountiful in their last meeting of the year.
The Rams open the tournament hosting Springville, while a possible second-round meeting with fourth-ranked Timpview should be a dandy.
Not to be forgotten are top-ranked Mountain Crest and third-ranked Provo. The Mustangs went undefeated in Region 4 play, knocking off defending state champion Box Elder twice along the way. Mountain Crest, which won the title in 1995, opens against Olympus and appears to have an easy road into the quarterfinals.
Provo surprised everyone by starting off strong in Region 6 en route to a 13-1 record and the region title. The Bulldogs open with East and could face Box Elder in the second round.
Fifth-ranked Bountiful opens with Fremont and wouldn't face a ranked team until the quarterfinals.