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Orem's Haven Michaelis (13) takes a swing against Green Canyon in a high school girls volleyball match on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Moana Havea (32) tips the ball over Green Canyon's Eliza Force in a high school girls volleyball match on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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The Orem girls volleyball team celebrates a point during a high school match with Green Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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The Orem girls volleyball team celebrates a point during a high school match with Green Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem coaches address the team in a time out during a high school girls volleyball match against Green Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Amelia Marshall (8) prepares to serve against Green Canyon in a high school girls volleyball match on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Moana Havea (32) takes a swing against Green Canyon in a high school girls volleyball match on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem Callie Eudis (1) takes a swing against Green Canyon in a high school girls volleyball match on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Asena Mounga (12) and Moana Havea put up a block against Green Canyon's Audrey White in a high school girls volleyball match on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Asena Mounga (12) and Moana Havea put up a block against Green Canyon's Audrey White in a high school girls volleyball match on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Amelia Marshall serves against Green Canyon in a high school girls volleyball match on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem coaches use plates to fan libero Eve Allred during a high school girls volleyball match against Green Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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The Green Canyon girls volleyball team (foreground) prepares for a match against Orem on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

The first four sets between No. 1 Orem and No. 3 Green Canyon was everything you’d expect from two of the top teams in Class 4A girls volleyball.

The fifth set, not so much.

The Wolves took advantage of a flurry of Tiger errors and powered to an 11-1 lead in the fifth set, riding that momentum to a 3-2 (20-25, 28-26, 25-22, 25-27, 15-4) victory against the Tigers on Thursday.

“I think both teams did really well,” Orem head coach Bill Sefita said. “I felt like Green Canyon really opened our eyes to things that we can improve on in our practices and in our preparation work, but I felt like our girls battled a great fight. I’m glad that we had this matchup to kind of see what our strengths and weaknesses are on both sides.”

Orem won the fourth set in extra points but got off to a really slow start in Set 5, experiencing some passing issues that gave the visitors the upper hand. Two kills from Audrey White helped the Wolves to a 9-1 lead and a solo block from Ashlynn Nitzel made the score 11-1. From there, Green Canyon marched to the finish and ended the match with a kill from Avery Fauth.

The two programs are developing quite a history against each other. Orem beat Green Canyon for the 2023 4A state title and the two teams have met in the preseason the past three years, with the Wolves winning two (both on the Tigers home court) and Orem claiming victory in Logan in 2025.

The Tigers have won two of the past three 4A state titles, posting an 83-14 overall record and winning 29 of their past 30 Region 8 contests. But four-year starters Sarah and Scarlett Page graduated — the twin sisters are both playing at Florida Southwestern Junior College — and an adjustment period is expected with younger players taking on key roles.

“I think it just comes down to how do I as a head coach and coaches, how do we find ways that we can mentor them in those new roles,” Sefita said. “That way when the opportunity presents they can just go on a run with it instead of shying away from the responsibility.”

Senior Haven Michaelis had three kills in Set 1 as Orem went on a late 4-1 run for the win. Green Canyon survived extra points in Set 2, with White pounding down six kills to even the match at 1-1. Set 3 was tied at 20 when the Wolves got a key combo block from Fauth and Eliza Force to grab the momentum and Fauth’s kill was the winner, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead in the match. Orem fought off a match point late in Set 4 and won it with a big solo block from Madi Scott to force the fifth set.

Returning pin hitters Michaelis and Scott, along with middle Callie Eudis, give the Tigers a strong, experienced core.

“Honestly, we do have our eyes on the state championship again,” Michaelis said. “I know that’s a big goal. But I believe in our team and our younger players’ ability to step up, as well as our ability as seniors to lead the team. I think we have a lot of talent here at Orem. We just need to learn to work together and put that talent to the best of our abilities.”

Junior setter Amelia Marshall and senior libero Eve Allred have the unenviable task of replacing the Page sisters but showed they are capable in a challenging early season schedule that includes Green Canyon, 6A defending champion Corner Canyon and 6A runner-up Skyridge. In addition, sophomores Lynnea Samani, Moana Havea and Asena Mounga provide a bright future for the Tigers, despite the tough loss to Green Canyon.

“I think it just puts a fire in our bellies,” Michaelis said. “We’re going to come back into practice tomorrow ready to work hard. We have big goals in mind and we’re ready to work for them. We know winning isn’t a given and that we really have to put in the work. We’re ready to do that.”

In a quirk of scheduling, both Green Canyon (3-0) and Orem (1-2) play Skyridge next week. The Wolves host the Falcons next Tuesday and the Tigers travel north to face Skyridge on Thursday.