The stage is set for tonight’s 5A boys volleyball state championship at 4 p.m.
For the first time since boys’ volleyball was sanctioned three years ago, Maple Mountain will not be in the 5A state championship. Region 6 champion Bountiful made sure of it with a clean 3-0 sweep of the two-time defending champion in Thursday’s semifinal.
The Redhawks contained the Golden Eagles and won the first two sets convincingly, 25-19 and 25-21.
Even when Maple Mountain rallied to take a lead in the third set, Bountiful retook control and secured a shot at a state championship with a 26-24 win.
Bountiful was in this position in 2024, but lost in the championship to Maple Mountain. Last year, it fell short in the semifinals against Wasatch.
Meanwhile, Wasatch survived a scare from Olympus.
The Wasps are arguably the best team in the state, and they hadn’t lost a set in a month, until the Titans shocked them 27-25 in the opening set of the semifinal.
Wastach did what great teams do: they recovered and won the next three sets 25-20, 25-21, and 25-21 to advance to a second straight championship game.
Friday’s semifinal win was the 22nd consecutive for the Wasps, who hope to make it 23 in today’s championship against Bountiful.