There were plenty of distractions for the Timpview girls volleyball team leading into Tuesday’s season opener against defending 4A champion Ridgeline.

The T-Birds hadn’t been able to practice in the Thunderdome because of construction on the school’s campus, so Tuesday was their first time under the lights there. Timpview setter Silina Damuni, who has committed to BYU, would be facing off against RiverHawks setter Lavinia Damuni, her first cousin who will play for Gonzaga next year. In addition, T-Bird head coach Charmay Lee would be coaching against one of her mentors, former Mountain View coach Jaicee Roden.

Timpview overcame those distractions and deficits in both the second and third sets to earn a 25-17, 25-12, 26-24 victory against Ridgeline.

“I was with Jaicee for three years,” Lee said. “We’ve been friends for a long time and now she’s moved up to Ridgeline. They tested us with their serve game. Just like any preseason, we’re just trying to figure out our lineups and see who can go into the game and respond to those varsity moments.”

Silina Damuni certainly responded well, especially in a tense third set. Ridgeline took a 24-22 lead on back-to-back kills from Maggie Larsen to get to set point and had a chance to force a fourth set. Damuni, who had consecutive dump attacks for points earlier in the set, got another dump score to to close to 23-24.

“Silina is awesome and she’s unpredictable,” Lee said. “She can do everything. She can pass, she can hit and she has an aggressive serve.”

Timpview tied the set at 24 after a Ridgeline hitting error and Damuni went to the service line. She fed Taliah Lee for a kill for a 25-24 advantage and at match point the T-Birds got a touch block, then Damuni transitioned the ball for a swing for Neriah Perez that she tooled off the block for the winner.

“This is our first day back in the Thunderdome,” Damuni said. “We’ve kind of been in the dungeon over there (in the south gym) but this feels like home and I’m so happy we got to play her for our first game. We got to play against a fun team and playing against my first cousin was a blast.”

Timpview — ranked No. 3 in Class 5A — took a 10-4 lead on an ace from Perez in Set 1 and maintained a comfortable lead throughout. Ava Napierski got a tip to push the lead to 22-11 and a Ridgeline service error finished off the set with a 25-17 win for the T-Birds.

Ridgeline got out fast in Set 2 and led 9-5 on an ace by Fifita Corona. But Timpview kept calm and went on a 20-3 run to seize control. An ace by Lee was the winner at 25-12.

“We just got relaxed,” Damuni said. “I think we have to play like we’re always behind and always catching up so we can be as competitive as we can. I think we came together super well in this game. There were lots of nerves at the beginning because we have a younger team. But it all ended up working out in the end.”

Set 3 was tied nine times as Ridgeline started to find a better offensive groove. The RiverHawks led 19-15 after a Timpview service error but kills from Silina Damuni and Lee brought the T-Birds even at 19, setting up the close finish.

“My preseason is all about how much can we get beat up and expose our weaknesses so we can make those become stronger,” Coach Lee said. “I feel like Ridgeline did a really good job of that I really liked what they brought in. They challenged us in a positive way.”

Timpview (1-0) will host Region 9 contender Salem Hills next Tuesday while Ridgeline (0-2) will host Lehi in Millville.