OREM -- Both the expected and unexpected occurred on Friday at the 1-A state volleyball tournament at Utah Valley University's UCCU Center.
Highly favored St. Joseph, the Region 17 champs, cruised through to the semifinal round with straight-set wins over Piute and Tabiona. Nothing shocking there.
But the unheralded Layton Christian Academy Eagles pummeled Tintic in three games and then stunned defending state champion Panguitch in five, including a roller coaster 15-13 Game 5 to set up a semifinal match today at 12:30 p.m. against heavy tournament favorite Rich.
"I try to teach them to play smart volleyball and keep the ball in play until we have the chance to put it away," Eagles' first-year coach Angie Hopes said. "I think that's what they did. Panguitch is such a good team. They play great defense and they got into our heads a little bit, but we kept persevering."
LCA senior middle blocker Melina Bachtar did a number on the Wildcats, racking up 28 kills, 15 digs, two solo blocks and a pair of aces. Zakiya Harris added eight kills and 16 digs, while Emily Jessop contributed seven kills and 11 digs.
"We've just been working hard all week long for this situation," Hopes said. "We've done our work, so now it's time to just play and have fun."
St. Joseph, which blasted Tabiona 25-12, 27-25, 25-17, made it to the semifinals last season as well and will face Region 19 champion Monticello this morning at 10:30. A win against the Buckaroos would give the Jayhawks a spot in the championship game for the first time since 1980.
"I think the girls are excited to play," St. Joseph coach Ray Franklin said. "I think we've got a pretty good chance against Monticello. It's our second year in the semifinals. The girls were disappointed that we didn't do as well as we could have last year, so they're psyched up to do better."
Against Tabiona, sophomore phenom Britt Sederholm recorded 17 kills, three aces and three solo blocks, while Jessica Bishoff -- also a sophomore -- added 11 kills and four aces. Setter Emmie Oliver, one of just two seniors on the team, had 40 set assists and four aces.
The 1-A state championship game is slated for 8 p.m. tonight.
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