Bountiful won two more region matchups to stay on top of Region 5, while being ranked second statewide in 5A, while Viewmont and Farmington also picked up two more wins. Davis and Woods Cross split their matches this week.

Bountiful

Second ranked Bountiful defeated Box Elder 23-25, 25-9, 25-7, 25-20 April 9.

“Box Elder is a very athletic team and I was happy with how we battled back after dropping the first set,” said head coach Sarah Chism.

Against Orem April 10, the Redhawks won 24-26, 20-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-11.

“I am very proud of our team for how hard they played,” Chism said. “They are learning every day and focusing in on what they are being asked to do. I thought we played well as a team. We are starting to build trust in each other and playing together as a team, rather than individuals.”

Bountiful swept Woods Cross 25-13 25-21, 25-13 April 11 to pick up its seventh region victory and remain undefeated in Region 5 play.

“Finishing the first round of region, we feel good about where we are at,” said Chism. “We know everyone will continue to improve and make changes, so we will work hard and focus in on improving for the second half of the season.”

The Redhawks are 9-2 overall this season.

Viewmont

Viewmont defeated Roy in three sets 25-16, 27-25, 25-16 April 9.

“Roy played some scrappy defense and I credit their play for causing us to make different shot selections throughout the match,” said head coach Karl Lippa. “I was pleased with our defense as well. My team knows I expect them to work for a level of play that continually improves throughout the season and start to build more into this second half of the regular season. All in all, I was pleased with our play and I would like to see us polish up more things offensively to be more effective.”

Against Clearfield April 11, the Vikings recorded another sweep with a 25-11, 25-18, 25-20 win.

“I was extremely pleased with our mindset in this match,” said Lippa. “We had a discussion this week at practice about playing as part of a bigger picture, and I was happy with how they responded. Our focus points were to play defense and serve-receive well, which I think we did. Offensively, I felt we were smart with our attacks, and the entire match was balanced well. They went on some excellent scoring runs and had some pretty powerful hits, which I credit our defense for naturalizing some of those hits early.”

Viewmont is now 6-1 in Region 5 and 9-6 overall.

“The second half of region play will be even more exciting with so many teams showing excellent improvement so far this season,” Lippa said. “It’ll be fun to watch.”

Farmington

Farmington swept Fremont 25-16, 25-19, 25-13 April 9.

“It was an impressive performance showcasing our dominance, highlighted by a consistent attack and formidable defense,” said head coach Fermin Soriano Bautista. “Overall, it was a testament to our talent, teamwork and relentless pursuit of excellence.”

Jake Connell led the Phoenix squad with eight kills and seven aces while Dylan Borland added seven kills. Defensively, Tavin Fulton had nine digs with Connell recording seven. Brayden Peck ran the offense with 16 assists.

Against Weber April 11, Farmington won 16-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16.

“We demonstrated an impressive comeback, rallying together and delivering a remarkable performance that left Weber struggling to keep up,” Bautista said. “Our players showed exceptional effort on defense, effectively shutting down Weber’s offensive plays. Our attack line proved formidable, consistently breaking through Weber’s defense and securing crucial points. A practical tactical approach was essential in this victory, where our boys showed intelligent play. The determination and skill displayed by our entire team was instrumental in turning the game around and obtaining victory in the following three sets. This outstanding display of resilience and teamwork is evidence of the talent and dedication of our boys.”

The Phoenix are undefeated through three Region 1 matches and 7-5 this year.

“Our practice efforts are not just efforts but a testament to the guys’ commitment to refining their skills and strategies,” Bautista said. “This dedication is paying dividends as demonstrated by its cohesive gameplay and individual performances. Their consistent attack and effective defense are a direct result of their hard work and dedication, reflecting the positive impact of their rigorous training regimen. With our consistent performance and unwavering determination, we continue to establish ourselves as a formidable force in the volleyball arena.”

Davis

Davis lost to Syracuse 25-19, 15-25, 25-18, 25-21 April 9. The Darts were led by Chase Valentine with 19 kills and 18 digs and Luke McKnight with 16 kills and 18 digs. Jack Bennett also had a double-double with 19 assists and 14 digs in the loss.

Against Fremont April 11, Davis picked up its first Region 1 win with a 25-14, 25-13, 25-10 sweep.

Valentine had 10 kills with McKnight adding eight and McKnight and Josh Wood serving up three aces each. On defense, Valentine recorded 20 digs while McKnight and Brandon Sims had 14 and Brigham Garber recorded four blocks at the net. Wood and Jack Bennett combined for 24 assists in running the offense. The Darts had 33 kills, eight aces and 66 digs in the three-set match.

The Darts are 1-2 in Region 1 play and 8-4 so far this season.

Woods Cross

Woods Cross defeated Northridge 26-24, 28-26, 25-20 April 9 in a tight three-set match.

“Lincoln Hibbert was our player of the match,” said head coach Josey Hilton. “With some starters out, he showed up big time and did an amazing job playing right side for us. He had some key momentum-changing hits and blocks, did a great job on defense, and as usual, was extremely consistent with his serves. He played a huge part in our win and he stepped into the role seamlessly. I’m super proud of the progress that he has made and look forward to seeing what he can do going into the second half of our season.”

The junior varsity team won in five sets against the Knights 22-25, 26-24, 15-9, 16-17, 15-12 with Leo Vanderberghe earning ‘player of the match” honors for the Wildcats. “He is starting to become a regular in our starting lineup,” said Hilton. “His passing and hitting improvements from the start of the season are just a couple of reasons why. Leo is working hard to become a mainstay in the starting lineup as we get deeper into the season. He is definitely one to keep a close eye on.”

In the sophomore match against Northridge, Woods Cross won 25-20, 25-18. “Grant Hamblin was our player of the match,” Hilton said. “He did an amazing job owning his position as a middle blocker and makes a big impact on the court. His eye work has improved and he did a great job reading and anticipating where the hitters were going. He had multiple blocks they’re impressive to see. A coach can always identify focused and determined players and he was that play for us in this match.”

The Wildcats then lost to top-ranked Bountiful in three sets April 11. 

“We knew this was going to be a tough match so we practiced a ton on staying in the moment and focused as well as staying loose,” Hilton said. “Our mental mindset was going to be key during this match and unfortunately, we didn’t perform to the best of our ability right out of the gates. After the first set, we reset expectations and priorities, refocused and made a much better showing. However, by the time the third set came around, the momentum of the game was fully in their favor. We did see some good things, and a lot of things that we need to continue to work on in order to finish the season strong.”
Hilton credited Eli Michaelis for his five blocks in the match. “Most of his blocks were at critical points to switch the momentum,” Hilton said. “He is just a big and intimidating presence at the net and he does a great job for us.”

The JV squad beat the Redhawks in five sets 25-16, 25-21, 16-17, 8-15, 15-12. “Elliot Gardner is ‘Mr. Even-Keeled’ himself,” Hilton said of her player of the match. “He is never too high and never too low when it comes to playing volleyball. Elliot is one of our consistent servers and showed that in this match. He always takes being coached hard with a smile on his face and a willingness to get better. He might not be the loudest vocal leader on the court, but his play is starting to speak volumes.”

The sophomore team lost to Bountiful in three sets 18-25, 25-13, 10-15. “Bentley Murdock was our player of the match,” said Hilton. “He had his best performance yet for the season. He may be the smallest player on our team, but he definitely had the biggest presence in the back row. He played a crucial role in keeping us in system with his amazing passes and digs. He is a natural leader and an assertive person and it shows every single game with the way he carries himself and the way he talks with his teammates. We are so excited for what else is in store for Bentley and we are so proud of how much he has improved.”

Woods Cross is 5-2 in the Region 5 standings and 5-10 on the year.