Prep volleyball playoffs: Northridge sweeps past Roy in 5A first round
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- Northridge’s Miranda Brown, top right, celebrates a point with teammates Lia Brown, Makayla Carrigan (1) and Izabel Kap (5) during a 5A first-round playoff game against Roy on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Layton.
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- Roy’s Nicole Williams rises for a swing during a 5A first-round playoff game against Northridge on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Layton.
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- Northridge’s Victoria Hunter, right, reaches over the net as Bailee Tucker (10) looks on during a 5A first-round playoff game against Roy on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Layton.
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- Roy High players celebrate a point against Northridge during a 5A first-round playoff game Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Layton.
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- Northridge’s Izabel Kap, left, swings at the ball as teammate Miranda Brown watches during a 5A first-round playoff game against Roy on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Layton.
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- Northridge’s Makayla Carrigan passes the ball during a 5A first-round playoff game against Roy on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Layton.
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- Roy’s Reese Burnett, left, reaches for the ball as teammate Ari Morgan (16) looks on during a 5A first-round playoff game against Northridge on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Layton.
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- Roy’s Brinlee Nebeker hits the ball during a 5A first-round playoff game against Northridge on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Layton.
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- A Roy players swings at the ball during a 5A first-round playoff game against Northridge on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Layton.
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- Roy’s Ari Morgan passes the ball during a 5A first-round playoff game against Northridge on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in Layton.
LAYTON — One of the nuances of RPI seeding for the state tournament is that it’s no respecter of regions, and teams that played each other in the regular season often end up paired in the playoffs.
Such was the case Tuesday as No. 11 Northridge High girls volleyball was matched with No. 22 Roy for the third time this year, this time in the first round of the 5A state championship bracket.
The results were the same as the previous two Region 5 meetings as Northridge dominated the Royals 3-0 and advanced to the second round of the tournament.
“We played Roy in our last region game on Thursday and actually dropped a set to them. We came in too cocky. We wanted to dominate (today),” Northridge senior captain Bailee Tucker said. “We were serving and passing and were really focused. I’m proud of the girls because they had mega-fire in their eyes. I knew we would take care of business and was excited about how we would play and how it would show up on the court.”
Each set had its own particular flavor and Northridge excelled no matter the circumstances. The Knights quickly dispatched Roy 25-12 in the first set, trailed in the second but rallied to win 25-20, then closed the match in a hard-fought, tight 25-20 finale that was tied late at 19-19.
“When we start out strong we stay strong; our issue in the second set was we get unfocused and have to reset and come back. I’m proud of us for stopping it fast. Take a deep breath,” Tucker said. “We’re teenage girls and to encourage each other and say ‘I’m on your side, I’m in your corner, I’ve got you,’ helps us build each other up mentally.
“In the third set, those are my favorite games; clutch games, close games. It’s fun. It’s great. I was never worried. I could feel it on the court that we knew we had it,” Tucker said.
Opening the playoffs at home against a familiar opponent was a comfortable start for the Knights (9-8) and they now have a two-game winning streak and some momentum heading into the second round at UVU on Thursday.
Something that stood out Tuesday was the power with which Northridge played. While the Royals (8-15) were able to make digs to keep action alive, several of the balls bounced high off of the rafters or the hanging scoreboard as they tried to mitigate the incoming force applied.
“We talk about it all the time; go out and be dominant on the court. We are in control,” Tucker said. “We call it inflicting our will on the other team. We make them have to work around us. We don’t let them dictate how we play our game. It comes out in our passing; it comes out in our hitting. We hit really hard.”
Even though Northridge won handily, Tucker called out props to Roy’s Ari Morgan in particular, who opened the second and third sets as server for the Royals when they jumped to early 4-0 leads both times before the Knights settled down and recovered.
“(Morgan) is really good at making us choose who’s going to pass it; good at mixing it up. (Roy) is a good tactical, technical team,” Tucker said. “They know where an open spot is. That makes it fun for us because we have to cover all the spots.”
LAYTON 3, LEHI 1
LAYTON — No. 16 Layton (14-16) beat No. 17 Lehi (7-22) in the 6A first round. Set scores were 25-8, 25-23, 23-25, 25-14.
Penina Leota served nine aces for Layton. Milly Pendleton and Aubrey Hackett each tallied five kills and five blocks.
The Lancers advance to the second round at Utah Valley University where they will face No. 1 Skyridge at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
SPRINGVILLE 3, BOX ELDER 2
BRIGHAM CITY — No. 13 Box Elder fell behind 8-0 in the pivotal fifth set in a 5A first-round home loss to No. 20 Springville (11-18). Set scores were 25-18, 18-25, 27-25, 18-25, 15-9.
The Bees ended the year with a 14-16 record.
EAST 3, CLEARFIELD 1
CLEARFIELD — No. 15 Clearfield dropped the fourth set to lose at home to No. 18 East (12-12) in the 5A first round. Scores were 25-18, 25-19, 19-25, 26-24.
The Falcons finished the season with a 12-16 mark.