Keep on fighting: Lehi volleyball makes key plays, wins at Spanish Fork in 5A first round
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- Lehi players celebrate after winning a point during the 5A first round match at Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Lehi senior Mackenzie Olsen hits the ball during the 5A first round match at Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Spanish Fork junior Ava Nakai dives for the ball during the 5A first round match against Lehi in Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Lehi junior Kodi Brems hits the ball during the 5A first round match at Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Lehi sophomore Isabella Loftin serves the ball during the 5A first round match at Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Lehi senior Mackenzie Olsen sets the ball over the block during the 5A first round match at Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Spanish Fork players celebrate scoring a point during the 5A first round match against Lehi in Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Spanish Fork junior Ava Nakai tips the ball over the net during the 5A first round match against Lehi in Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Spanish Fork junior Ava Nakai goes up for an attack during the 5A first round match against Lehi in Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Lehi senior Marin Faddis sets the ball during the 5A first round match at Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- A Spanish Fork player serves the ball during the 5A first round match against Lehi in Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Lehi senior Mackenzie Olsen (11) and sophomore Shiloah Young go up for a block during the 5A first round match at Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Lehi players prepare to take the floor during the 5A first round match at Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
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- Spanish Fork head coach Valerie Benson talks to her team during the 5A first round match against Lehi in Spanish Fork on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.
After a strong start, the Lehi volleyball team found itself in a tough spot in Tuesday night’s 5A first round match.
The Pioneers were on the road in a raucous environment at Spanish Fork, down two sets to one and facing elimination with the score tied at 23-23 in the fourth frame.
A Don service error followed by a kill tied the score at 24, then a Spanish Fork hitting error and kill kept things knotted at 25-25.
Lehi took a turn, getting a kill with a subsequent service error to tie the match at 26-26.
“My teeth were chattering as I was sitting on the bench watching them,” Pioneer senior Mackenzie Olsen said. “After I’d come out after my serving run, I noticed that the person who was going back to serve, I knew that she’d been amazing. Having confidence in our team just really helped us out I think.”
A service error and an ace from junior Dani Madden that hit the top of the net and rolled over kept Lehi alive with the 28-26 win.
But there was still Set 5 as both teams were playing to keep their seasons alive.
Back and forth the match went with the Dons going up 11-9, only to see the Pioneers answer with three straight points. A Lehi serving tied the match at 12-12 and victory hung in the balance.
Once again, just like in the previous frame, it was the Pioneers who came through when it mattered. Lehi took the lead off a Spanish Fork mishit, then secured the match with an ace by junior Kodi Brems and a block from Madden.
“My game plan was just hit high hands and I got two of them off the block,” Olsen said. “I feel like we really executed and worked well because we ended up getting those last blocks and I was able to swing in and get those balls down. To win was great. I had a great time here.”
It certainly wasn’t easy but Lehi came away with the 3-2 (25-18, 24-26, 22-25, 28-26, 15-12) win and earned the right to play another match.
“We knew it was going to be a battle,” Pioneer head coach Kolton Rader said. “Spanish Fork played their hearts out. They are a good group of kids who are well coached. We knew we were going to have to bring our A game. These girls fought hard. They were just gritty. They went after it, they wanted it and they got it so I’m proud of them.”
Olsen said it was an intense match to be a part of.
“Everyone on our team has been working so hard on just getting our serves in and stuff,” Olsen said. “Getting to go on a serving run, I felt like It was really good and helpful for our team. I feel like it made us all more confident. I was super excited to play against these guys. They’re really good and they have some good hitters, so it’s really fun to go against them. I’m glad we got the opportunity.”
Radar said one of the keys to victory was having the athletes show their heart and determination.
“This is it, win or go home,” Rader said. “So go play, go have fun, go leave it all out on the court. At the end of the day, you’re going to be proud of the way you played, whether you win or lose if you’re going to 100%. That was the message for us this last two weeks and they went and did it.”
The victory means the Pioneers — the No. 19-seed — now move on to the 5A second round at the UCCU Center in Orem on Thursday, where they will face No. 3-seeded Maple Mountain.
But for tonight, they get to savor making it through and winning one more match.
“It means the world for these seniors to keep going, to have one more chance, one more crack at it,” Rader said. “It means everything for our underclassmen that have to learn how to battle. Each one of these games are going to be a battle. There are no bad teams and now it’s a fight. It means the world to just learn how to compete without the result meaning that very much, to let go of the result and just compete one point at a time.”
