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Westlake's Kalika Tafa (right) and teammate Keegan Cundiff celebrate a score during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Two Lehigh boys volleyball players do a handstand before the start of the 6A boys volleyball state tournament game against Herriman on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Skyridge boys volleyball fans celebrate scoring during the 6A state tournament Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Lone Peak's Freddie Dayton, 11, reaches for the ball during a game against Farmington in the 6A boys volleyball state tournament Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Lone Peak bench players react during the 6A boys volleyball state tournament game against Farmington Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Lone Peak's Adam Cave takes a swing against Farmington during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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American Fork players celebrate a score during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game against Mountain Ridge on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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American Fork's Justin Thorpe, 23, blocks a Mountain Ridge player's shot during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Maxim Hale, 33, of American Fork takes a swing against Mountain Ridge Block during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
10/19
Lehigh freshman Ashton Shewell takes a swing against Herriman during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
11/19
Lehigh's Dylan Avery (12) and Noah Tauai make blocks against Herriman during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Lone Peak's Trevor Allen digs for a ball during the 6A boys volleyball state tournament against Farmington on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Lone Peak's Brady Holt serves the ball against Farmington during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Lone Peak's Adam Cave swings during the 6A boys volleyball state tournament against Farmington on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Lone Peak's Easton Reed sets the ball during a game against Farmington in the 6A boys volleyball state tournament Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Skyridge boys volleyball team players celebrate a score during a 6A state tournament game against Davis on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Westlake's Will Harris (left) and Kirika Tafa stand up for a block with Weber during the 6A boys volleyball state tournament Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Westlake's Kirika Tafa swings with Weber during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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A Pleasant Grove boys volleyball fan waves a hat during a game against Copper Hills in the 6A state tournament Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Darnell Dixon, Daily Herald
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Westlake's Kalika Tafa (right) and teammate Keegan Cundiff celebrate a score during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Two Lehigh boys volleyball players do a handstand before a game against Herriman in the boys volleyball 6A state tournament Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Skyridge boys volleyball fans celebrate scoring during the 6A state tournament Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Lone Peak's Freddie Dayton, 11, reaches for the ball during a game against Farmington in the 6A boys volleyball state tournament Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Lone Peak bench players react during the 6A boys volleyball state tournament game against Farmington Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Lone Peak's Adam Cave takes a swing against Farmington during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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American Fork players celebrate a score during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game against Mountain Ridge on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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American Fork's Justin Thorpe, 23, blocks a Mountain Ridge player's shot during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Maxim Hale, 33, of American Fork takes a swing against Mountain Ridge Block during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Lehigh freshman Ashton Shewell takes a swing against Herriman during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Lehigh's Dylan Avery (12) and Noah Tauai make blocks against Herriman during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Lone Peak's Trevor Allen digs for a ball during the 6A boys volleyball state tournament against Farmington on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the UCCU Center.
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Lone Peak's Brady Holt serves the ball against Farmington during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Lone Peak's Adam Cave swings during the 6A boys volleyball state tournament against Farmington on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the UCCU Center.
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Lone Peak's Easton Reed sets the ball during a game against Farmington in the 6A boys volleyball state tournament Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Skyridge boys volleyball team players celebrate a score during a 6A state tournament game against Davis on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Westlake's Will Harris (left) and Kirika Tafa stand up for a block with Weber during the 6A boys volleyball state tournament Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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Westlake's Kirika Tafa swings with Weber during a 6A boys volleyball state tournament game Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
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A Pleasant Grove boys volleyball fan waves a hat during a game against Copper Hills in the 6A state tournament Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the UCCU Center.
Two Pioneer players performed impressive handstands before the start of Lehigh's second round 6A boys volleyball state tournament match against No. 1 Herriman.
High school boys' volleyball is very popular in Utah.
The high level of play was evident in the 5A and 6A state tournaments held Thursday at Utah Valley's UCCU Center, with athletic competition taking place for the first time this spring, with four games played to loud, cheering fans.
“The energy here is insane,” said Westlake coach Whitney Randall, in her first year coaching boys volleyball. “I had a hard time keeping my boys focused on the game because there were games going on all over the place. But to be honest, it's a really fun environment. Going into this game, I was a little bit cramped because it was a new situation. I knew it was going to happen. I was going to make an unforced error, but I just tried to minimize it in the first game.”
The second-seeded Thunder fought through the second round against No. 15 Weber, winning in four sets (25-16, 25-23, 16-25, 25-17).
“This whole experience for my first season of high school volleyball has been amazing,” Westlake lead hitter Kirika Tafa said. “We're doing everything we can to win, I can tell you that. I really liked our energy. We're a very energetic team and I feel like everyone's on the same page. But… Even if we don't, we're still very good with each other.”
Randall said the competitive nature of the tournament should bring out the best in the teams.
“I think it's important to focus on our team and play and execute what we're supposed to do,” she said. “I think that's why when you look at the top six, seven teams, they've all lost three or four to each other. It's because we all learn the ebb and flow of scoring and what that looks like. It's been a really fun and great season. We're happy to be the second seed and we want to keep winning.”
Region 3 teams played well, with No. 3 Pleasant Grove, No. 5 Lone Peak and No. 9 Skyridge also advancing to the quarterfinals. Pleasant Grove was given the toughest test, falling 2-0 to No. 14 Copper Hills, 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 15-10). ) won a come-from-behind victory. . In the fifth set, a 3-0 run led by Tyson Jarvis' ace gave the Vikings an early lead at 6-3. Kennadi Lee took the points with two big attacks, the second on a roll shot to give PG a 13-10 advantage. Brayden Thomas hit a spin ace for a 15-10 victory.
Lone Peak had to bounce back from a bad first set, falling 25-18 in the 12th set against Farmington. However, the Knights won the next three sets (25-15, 25-22, 25-21) to advance to the tournament. Skyridge survived by holding off No. 8 Davis 3-1 (18-25, 32-30, 25-13, 27-25).
No. 13 American Fork had the difficult task of facing No. 4 Mountain Ridge, which it had lost to twice on the season. In the end, the Sentinels won 3-1, but the Cavemen took three of the sets to extra points, winning the second set 29-27, the third set 30-28, and the fourth. lost 28-26.
The second half of the quarterfinal games will be No. 9 Sky Ridge vs. No. 1 Herriman, No. 5 Lone Peak vs. No. 4 Mountain Ridge, No. 2 Westlake vs. No. 7 Syracuse, and No. 2 Westlake vs. No. 7 Syracuse, all of which will be played daily.・The project ended after the Herald deadline. 3 Pleasant Grove vs. 11 Bingham.
The repechage will continue on Friday, with 5th to 8th place being determined. The semi-finals and final will be held on Saturday.
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