Second-ranked Green Canyon finishes strong in 3-1 victory at No. 1 Orem
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- Orem’s Callie Eudis (1) takes a swing against the Green Canyon block during a high school girls volleyball match on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
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- The Orem girls volleyball team celebrates a point during a high school match against Green Canyon on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
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- Orem’s Haven Michaelis serves during a high school girls volleyball match against Green Canyon on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
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- Masey Allred serves during a high school girls volleyball match against Green Canyon on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
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- Orem’s Sophie Campbell (24) and Haven Michaelis rise up to block Green Canyon’s Keira Birch during a high school girls volleyball match on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
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- Orem’s Sarah Page (5) sets the ball to teammate Kambri Kuhni during a high school girls volleyball match against Green Canyon on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
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- Orem’s Sarah Page serves in a high school girls volleyball match against Green Canyon on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
The last time Orem and Green Canyon met in girls volleyball the Tigers roared, sweeping the Wolves to win the 2023 4A state title.
On Tuesday, it was Green Canyon’s turn to celebrate.
The No. 2 (in 4A) Wolves, behind the powerful hitting of super sophomore Audrey White, lost the first set but made the right plays at the end of sets 2, 3 and 4 to claim a 3-1 (18-25, 25-22, 25-23, 27-25) victory against top-ranked Orem.
“There were lots of opportunities and we just failed to execute on the opportunities presented to us,” Tigers coach Bill Sefita said. “Green Canyon was a tough serving team. They were scrappy and they were able to pick up the ball. We have heavy hitters, but they were just good at creating and killing the ball on us.”
After splitting the first two sets, Orem dominated the middle of the third set and led 17-11 lead when Haven Michaelis pounded down a kill. Green Canyon righted itself and tied the set at 20-all. It was tied at 23-all when the Wolves’ Charlie Monson served back-to-back aces for a 25-23 victory and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Orem had control of the fourth set, leading 15-10 after an ace from Sarah Page. But Green Canyon, as they did all night, responded to adversity. Kambri Kuhni’s ace pushed the Tigers to a 21-18 lead but the Wolves tied the set at 21 on a roll shot from White. A defensive error by Orem gave Green Canyon match point at 24-23. The Tigers managed to stay alive and fought off two match points, but the Wolves finally won it when the Orem defense couldn’t come up with a Green Canyon attack.
“I think one of the core values here at Orem is finding resiliency,” Sefita said. “This is one of those good matches. It’s always good, as a coach, to see this kind of pressure early on because it helps build up the younger players and also helps teach the older girls, like, how can you mentor them a little bit more? That way, when it’s time for you to step up to the plate, you’re ready to go.”
Green Canyon took an 11-8 lead in the first set but Orem rallied to take a 14-12 lead after kills from Callie Eudis, Haven Michaelis and Sophie Campbell. Green Canyon pulled to within 18-17 on an attack from White, but the Tigers took control and went on a 7-1 run to the finish. Freshman Madi Scott got Orem to set point with a swing and Kuhni got the game winner for a 25-18 victory.
The Tigers led 18-15 in the second set after an ace from Scarlett Page but Green Canyon was up to the challenge. Tied at 22-all, the Wolves scored the final three points, including a big combo block from Elly Giordano and Ashlynn Nitzel. After a long rally at set point, White smashed the winner in a 25-22 Green Canyon victory to tie the match at 1-1. That gave the Wolves the momentum they needed to get the road win.
The Tigers, which finished 27-6 last season, are adjusting to life without leading hitter and four-year starter Sami Blackett (now at Utah Valley) and middle blocker Ava Napierski (Utah State). The Page sisters (setter Sarah and libero Scarlett) return this season, along with sophomores Michaelis and Sophie Campbell and Kuhni, a senior, who all played on the state championship team. Two talented freshmen, Eudis and Scott, are learning their roles as the Tigers play a difficult preseason schedule.
“We’re a young team and it’s early in the preseason,” Sefita said. “There are lots of things to learn. It’s hard for the freshmen to come in and take the pressure. Considering we’re the reigning state champions, we have to be mindful of that was last year. We’ve got figure out how to find our own names and put our own names on the court. We’re a good team. We’re looking for those little things, those team dynamics that we can build and continue to work on.”
Orem (2-1) has another difficult match on Thursday at 6A Bingham, while Green Canyon (6-0) will host Morgan.
