CLEARFIELD — Clearfield junior Brooklynn Hawks says she doesn’t remember the specific play where she stepped in front of a Layton kill shot and kept the volleyball alive, knocking it high into the air.

Two touches later, Clearfield captured the point and took a 18-8 lead in the second set of its 6A opening match Tuesday against Layton.

After all, the big dig was only one of 75 points the Falcons scored on the way to a 3-0 shutout victory over the Lancers, but it set the tone for the game.

“I don’t know (about that play). It’s like I don’t want them to get the kill. Getting a dig is almost more satisfying then getting a kill,” Hawks said. “To be able to rob them of that is more of an accomplishment, so I just want to step in there and get it.”

No. 11 Clearfield (15-7) beat No. 22 (6-23) Layton for the third time this season — this time 25-21, 25-12, 25-21 — and advanced to the second round Thursday at Utah Valley University against another Region 1 foe in Fremont.

“I think the first time we played (Layton) it was really close (3-2) and the second time we had a lot of confidence and energy because it was senior night; it was super good,” Hawks said. “Tonight we were ready to fight; ready to win. Ready for anything.”

The Falcons broke out of a 17-17 tie in the first set with an 8-4 run to take a 1-0 set lead.

“It came down to our serve. At first they were giving us fits and things we weren’t used to, but then we flipped a switch,” Hawks said.

In the second set, Hawks’ dig was part of an 8-2 blitz as Clearfield coasted to a 2-0 advantage.

Hawks then showed she could also play offense when she notched her 12th kill of the evening for the game-winning match point.

“I was ready to finish it. It kept going on and on and we should have finished it earlier and I wanted to be the last one to put it away,” Hawks said. “I love it. It’s my first year playing outside; so it’s been fun.”

She finished with the dozen kills and added 10 digs. Savannah Anderson also had 12 kills, while Delaney Rasband chipped in with 11 digs and 27 assists. Libero Sadie Christiansen also recorded double digits with 10 digs.

So, the season marches on for a revitalized Clearfield crew under first-year coach Brooke Pehrson.

“I always knew I loved coaching; I just didn’t know if I wanted to do it forever,” Pehrson said. “When I finished playing (at Idaho State), I went into college athletics (administration) but realized how much I missed volleyball and wanted to be back in it. So this is a great opportunity. I just love it. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Clearfield is in the midst of its first winning season since 2014 when Pehrson prepped for Syracuse.

“When I walked into the gym, I was not expecting what I saw. It was really good. I was impressed,” Pehrson said. “I saw talent. It was just a mindset of the girls, whether it was a coaching staff change or what it was, they bought into what we were trying to teach them. They have been awesome to coach.”

Layton didn’t go down without a fight, closing with an 8-1 run as the Falcons neared match point, but couldn’t break through in the third set.

“I felt we did really well playing together and defense-wise picked things up,” Layton coach Angella Lopez said. “Just kind of have a young team (two seniors, two juniors), so hopefully the future looks bright. We kind of changed rotations and mixed things up. I felt like we played better this time than we have the whole season, so it’s a good way to end.”

Anastasia Witte led the Lancers with eight kills and Anna Merrill had four. Mercedes Lopez notched 12 assists while Emily Parke added seven digs.

Clearfield split its two games with Fremont this year.

“Our girls just have to come out mentally tough and be ready to play,” Pehrson said.

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