Mountain View cruises to 3-1 win against Pleasant Grove
School may have just started, but the Mountain View volleyball team is already acing every test.
The Bruins moved to 4-0 in the preseason with a scintillating 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 24-26, 25-22) victory against 6A power Pleasant Grove on Tuesday.
Previous victories against defending Class 6A champion Lone Peak, defending 5A champion Timpview and Idaho’s top team (Skyview) has made a loud and clear statement that Mountain View is on a quest for their own title in 2021.
“A month ago — even two weeks ago — the understanding was that going into our region play we could be 1-3, 2-2 or 3-1,” Bruins coach Dave Neeley said. “I never really wanted to think about being 4-0 until right now. It’s remarkable. I’m no Utah high school historian, but I can’t imagine any team has ever had a better start when it comes to the teams we’re playing and how they did last year. I can’t imagine any team has ever gone 4-0 against this kind of schedule.”
Lucy Perez topped Mountain View with 23 kills. Mia Lee (12) and Lili Suguturaga (nine) also got plenty of swings because of an excellent setting game from Kaylin Scott (47 assists).
“It feels amazing being 4-0,” Scott said. “It feels like a lot of work is getting paid off. It’s very satisfying.”
Leading 14-13 in Set 1, the Bruins pulled away and won it 25-19 when Perez went off the block. Set 2 was tied at 20 but back-to-back kills from Suguturaga and Perez pushed Mountain View to a 22-20 advantage and the Bruins won 25-22 on Suguturaga’s ace serve.
Pleasant Grove (2-1) went on a 9-1 run in Set 3 led by Ashley Gneiting and Sadie Scoville and seized a 20-12 advantage. Mountain View rallied to tie the set at 24 but Scoville scored twice on attacks to give the Vikings a 26-24 win and force a fourth set.
“I think in the first two sets we were super focused,” Scott said. “Then in the third set we missed some serves and lost our energy. In the fourth set we picked it up.”
It appeared Pleasant Grove had tied Set 4 at 22 on an attack that was tipped but the call was reversed and the Bruins led 23-21. At second match point, Perez powered her hit off the block for a 25-22 victory and the match.
The atmosphere in the gym on a beach-themed night was as good as the volleyball being played between two of the state’s top programs. Mountain View’s team performed a choreographed dance to “Crusin’ for a Bruisin'” from the Teen Beach Movie to entertain the Bruin Crazies, who were out in full force.
“My team, they are all my best friends,” Scott said. “Playing on the court with your best friends in the best feeling in the world. That’s what that (the dancing) is. We’re going out there with all of my best friends and doing what we do best.”
Mountain View will host city rival Timpanogos on Friday. Pleasant Grove will travel to Timpview on Thursday.