For the first time in four years, the race for the Region 2 volleyball title looks to be more than just a battle between Bingham and Taylorsville.
Thursday afternoon the Hunter Wolverines threw their hat into the ring of serious contenders by rallying to defeat fifth-ranked Taylorsville 11-15, 15-9, 15-12.It was the first win over the Warriors in nearly five years for Hunter (3-1), which remained in a tie for the region lead with Bingham. The loss was the second straight for Taylorsville (3-2) after getting waxed by Bingham Tuesday.
"We have a lot of talent but we have a lot of people who didn't play last year," Hunter head coach Pam Olsen said. "When we play as a team we are on."
Hunter looked off after losing the first game of the match, one in which it led 11-8 before allowing Taylorsville to score seven-straight points.
But behind the hitting and blocking of Jenny Gledhill and Sally Toia, the Wolverines turned the tables in the second game. With the score tied at 8-8, Hunter scored seven of the next eight points to force a deciding third game.
Trailing 6-3, Hunter used an 11-2 run to take command of the third game. Gledhill scored three of the final four points for the Wolverines with a kill, a block and a service winner, and Hunter endured a late Warrior rally before finally securing the win.
In Thursday's other action:
CLASS 5A
Region 1
Layton def. Viewmont 15-4, 15-8: Kim Morrill had 12 kills for the Lancers. Becky Snow recorded 22 digs for Viewmont.
Davis def. Clearfield 15-5, 15-2: Emily Christensen served up six aces for the victorious Darts.
Skyline def. Cottonwood 15-3, 15-8: The top-ranked Eagles got 11 kills and two aces from Holly Harris. Luci Fauolo had seven kills for Cottonwood.
Region 2
Copper Hills def. West Jordan 15-8, 12-15, 15-11: Kacee Gardner, Cheryl Molen and Angie Holmes combined for 26 kills for the Grizzlies.
Bingham def. Granger 15-6, 15-6: Heather Gilmore had 10 kills for the Miners.
Region 3
Alta def. Hillcrest 15-4, 15-8: Jaime Hensen netted five kills for the Hawks.
Mountain View def. Jordan 15-5, 15-5: A good team effort got the second-ranked Bruins past the Beetdiggers.
Orem def. Timpanogos 15-6, 15-1: Jessica Hawkins tallied eight kills, six blocks and hit .615 for the Tigers.
CLASS 4A
Region 4
Bonneville def. Sky View 15-12, 15-13: Kathy Mounarath had 18 kills and Kellee Thornock had 31 assists for the victorious Lakers.
Box Elder def. Weber 15-7, 15-10: The Bees got back on the winning track behind Karianne McCree's seven kills and six blocks.
Mountain Crest def. Logan 15-1, 15-6: Shauni Fluckiger and Shanda Hart both had seven kills for the top-ranked Mustangs.
Fremont def. Roy 15-10, 15-5: The Royals stumbled despite Crystal Howe's six blocks and five kills.
Region 5
Cyprus def. West 15-7, 15-8: Katrena Ellett slammed home 21 kills in a Pirate victory.
East def. Judge 10-15, 15-6, 15-13: Tina Sekona and Katie Boxell teamed for 15 kills in the Panthers' first region win.
Olympus def. Murray 15-3, 15-10: Big blocks by Mata Tukuafu spurred the Titans past the Spartans.
Bountiful def. Highland 15-12, 15-11: The Braves upset the third-ranked Rams.
Region 6
Provo def. Pleasant Grove 11-15, 15-11, 15-6: Angela Lobendahn powered down 15 kills to rally the second-ranked Bulldogs.
Springville def. Lone Peak 15-13, 15-3: Nicole McCarty had a great game setting and Jennifer Kirby had 14 kills for the Red Devils.
Spanish Fork def. Payson 15-8, 15-10: Natalie Kidman and Kim Treanor had 10 kills to lead the victorious Dons.
CLASS 3A
Region 7
Granite def. Ben Lomond 15-4, 13-15, 15-2: Tea Finau's 12 kills and six blocks paced the Farmers, while Marie Sumner had eight kills for the Scots.
Morgan def. Tooele 15-5, 15-11: The Spartans won the battle of the region's lone unbeaten teams.
Ogden def. Bear River 15-7, 14-16, 15-8: Katrina Carter had seven kills to lead the Tigers.
Region 8
Carbon def. North Sanpete 15-10, 15-6: The Dinos hit the road and stunned the Hawks.
Emery def. Delta 15-11, 15-10: The top-ranked Spartans remained unbeaten in region play.
Region 10
Wasatch def. Park City 15-4, 15-8: Team play earned the Wasps their first region win of the season.
Union def. Lehi 15-3, 15-5: April Mecham served the final six points of the match for the region-leading Cougars.
CLASS 2A
Region 11
Enterprise def. North Sevier 15-10, 15-7: The fifth-ranked Wolves improved to 5-2 in region play.
Millard def. Kanab 15-4, 15-7: By knocking off the Cowboys, the Eagles remained perfect in region play.
South Sevier def. Parowan 15-7, 15-11: A battle of the Rams saw South Sevier come out on top.
Region 12
North Summit def. Juab 15-2, 15-13: The Braves rallied in the second game for the win behind Christy Blumquist's 13 service points and three aces.
Rowland Hall def. Gunnison 15-2, 15-11: Megan Tuohig tallied eight kills and eight service points as the Winged Lions soared to victory.
Manti def. St. Joseph 15-6, 15-5: The Templars maintained a perfect region record by toppling the Jayhawks.
CLASS 1A
Region 16
Rich def. Manila 15-5, 10-15, 15-1: Lori Stringham notched 17 kills, Tanya McArthur added 11 kills and 13 digs and Jackie Johnson had 31 assists as the top-ranked Rebels outlasted the Mustangs.
Monument Valley def. Whitehorse 15-8, 15-8: The Cougars were victorious in their first region match.
Nonregion
Wayne def. Richfield 15-7, 15-6: Teresa Torgerson had a big game in the Badger victory.