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Orem's Lucky Jennings (8) celebrates with his teammates during a 4A boys volleyball state quarterfinal match against Green Canyon at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Luke Wolsey (center) attacks the ball against Green Canyon in a 4A boys volleyball state quarterfinal match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Ben Hone takes a swing against Green Canyon in a 4A boys volleyball state quarterfinal match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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The Orem boys volleyball team celebrates a victory in the 4A quarterfinals against Green Canyon at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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The Orem boys volleyball team celebrates a point during a Day 1 match in the 4A state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem boys volleyball coach Bill Sefita watches the action at the 4A state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Bryton Payne (26) celebrates a point during a 4A boys volleyball state quarterfinal match against Green Canyon at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Luke Wolsey (center) attacks the ball against Green Canyon in a 4A boys volleyball state quarterfinal match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Will Brown serves the ball against Green Canyon in a 4A boys volleyball state quarterfinal match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Cooper Pope of Timpanogos elevates to take a swing against Pine View in the 4A boys volleyball state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Jared Hansen of Timpanogos (12) rises up for a block against Pine View in the 4A boys volleyball state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Dailly Herald

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Cooper Pope of Timpanogos takes a swing against Pine View in the 4A boys volleyball state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Members of the Timpanogos boys volleyball team celebrates a point against Pine View in the 4A state tournament at the UCCU Center on Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Members of the Timpanogos boys volleyball team celebrates a point against Pine View in the 4A state tournament at the UCCU Center on Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Zaxen Downey of Timpanogos sets the ball against Pine View in the 4A boys volleyball state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7m 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Provo's Talon Colarusso (11) takes a swing against Murray in the 4A boys volleyball state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Payson's Dillon Houston (9) and Zack Kenison put up a block against Mountain View in the 4A boys volleyball state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Payson's Jace Mangum serves the ball against Mountain View in the 4A boys volleyball state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Payson boys volleyball players celebrate a point against Mountain View in the 4A state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Mountain View's Adam Maya sets the ball against Payson in the 4A boys volleyball state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Mountain View's Makai Wood serves the ball against Payson in the 4A boys volleyball state tournament at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

Much is expected from Orem in this year’s 4A state tournament, and a convincing quarterfinal straight set win over Green Canyon on Wednesday (25-18, 25-10, 25-8) didn’t disappoint.

Although the Tigers (24-6) started things off slowly, they soon hit a stride as they’ve shown forth so often this season, taking the second and third sets in convincing fashion. A key was an early timeout taken in the first set where Orem coach Bill Sefita managed to refocus his players.

“We can’t just be a reactive team that waits for the other team to do something,” Sefita said of his directive. “We have to be proactive and play our own volleyball first and then take care of the little things. That’s what helped us build that big lead.”

The second set saw Orem dominate from the outset. Led by Lucky Jennings and his eight kills for the match, the Tigers set off on a 12-1 run as most everything came together from both the front and back rows. Green Canyon managed to fight back a bit, but any 11 point deficit is hard to overcome in volleyball, and proved to be the case.

Orem took its second set momentum and parlayed it into an even bigger 25-8 winning margin in the third. After incurring an early 3-2 deficit the Tigers manufactured a 12-0 run and rolled from there for the straight set win.

Earlier in the day, Orem rolled past No. 17 West Field 25-10, 25-21, 25-13 in a first round sweep.

As mentioned, much is expected of the No. 1-seeded Tigers, who are a year removed from just missing out on a state championship. In 2024, Orem lost a heartbreaking five-set thriller to Pine View in the 4A title match.

It’s a fact not lost on this year’s team and has perhaps provided more than a little motivation.

“I think some of those who returned from last year have that chip on their shoulder, and have a point to prove,” Sefita said. “But we ask them to focus on the present and engage in the moment. We drive forward and don’t look backwards.”

What Sefita implored to his team during the first timeout during Wednesday’s match is a directive he’s preached all season.

“Last year was last year and we can’t really dwell on the past. All we can do is move forward,” said Orem Coach Bill Sefita. “We’re focused on what we can do better this year. That’s what we’re doing right now…We’re controlling the controllables.”

With the win Orem advances to take on No. 5 Payson in the semifinals on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. The two teams met twice during Region 8 play, with the Tigers winning 3-1 and 3-0.

Payson pulls it out

Led by Waylon Francom and Brockton Shirley, who tallied 11 and 10 kills, respectively, the Lions (20-9) secured a straight set win over Crimson Cliffs in the quarterfinals (25-17, 25-22, 25-22.)

It was a satisfying result for Payson coach Kyle Adams, whose team appears to be hitting its stride at exactly the right time.

“This season has been up and down,” Adams said. “We’ve had some fantastic play, but we’ve also struggled. But that’s typical high school sports. It’s a game of momentum and we made some adjustments throughout the season and I think we’re starting to peak right now.”

Fraught with illness to some key players early in region play, things have come together nicely with a date versus favored Orem on the horizon in the semifinals.

“I think we have a healthy team,” Adams said. “I think we have a team that’s really great at sacrificing. I love that they have a really selfless attitude and it’s starting to show up on the board.”

In the first round, the Lions took care of Region 8 foe Mountain View 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 16-25, 25-16).

Timpanogos gets the upset

Timpanogos, the No. 7 seed, reeled off the biggest upset of the day with a four-set win over No. 2 seed Murray (25-16, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23.)

“It may have been unexpected to others, but not to us,” said Timpanogos coach Jared Stark. “We came in ready to take on any team in front of us and our goal is to take it as far as possible.”

Although Senior Cooper Pope led the way and smashed through the game-winner, Stark was hesitant to point out any certain individual for Wednesday’s upset win.

“It was the whole team,” Stark said. “Everyone contributed. The whole team put in the work and it really was a complete team effort today. We’re happy to get this win, but our focus now turns to what’s up next.”

The T-Wolves took out defending state champion Pine View in the first round in a sweep (25-19, 25-15, 25-10).

Timpanogos (14-9) will square off versus Desert Hills (18-8) in the semifinals, giving Region 8 three of the four teams in that round.

In consolation play, No. 12 Mountain View advanced. with a 2-0 sweep (25-9, 25-23) of No. 13 Stansbury, advancing to play No. 8 Jordan on Thursday with the winner playing for 6th-8th place. No. 18 Provo fell to No. 10 Pine View 2-1 (25-23, 23-25, 27-25) and was eliminated in the consolation round.