Boys volleyball: Fremont stays steady to reverse sweep West Field in 5-set thriller
-
- West Field blockers Joshua Metcalf (5) and Lucas Chugg, right, stretch for a strike from Fremont’s Dean Hall, center, during a Region 5 boys volleyball match Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- West Field’s Nathan Villodres, center, reaches to dig the ball as teammates Kayden Bagley, left, and Tate Howell look on during a Region 5 boys volleyball match Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- Fremont High blockers Lucas Eyre (14) and Cole Hoffman (17) rise to the net as West Field’s Tate Howell (18) reaches for a hit during a Region 5 boys volleyball match Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- West Field players on the bench react to a play during a Region 5 boys volleyball match against Fremont on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- Fremont’s Dean Hall, left, readies for a swing as West Field’s Lucas Chugg, right, prepares to block during a Region 5 boys volleyball match Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- Fremont High’s Beckham Olsen sets a ball during a Region 5 boys volleyball match Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- West Field’s Joshua Metcalf sets the ball during a Region 5 boys volleyball match against Fremont on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- Fremont High’s Bennett Walsh speaks with the first referee during a Region 5 boys volleyball match Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- Fremont High’s Manase Tuatagaloa swings at the ball during a Region 5 boys volleyball match against West Field on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- Fremont High’s Miles Mitchell extends for the ball during a Region 5 boys volleyball match Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- West Field’s Aiden Christian taps a hit during a Region 5 boys volleyball match Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- West Field’s Kayden Bagley receives a ball ‘during a Region 5 boys volleyball match against Fremont on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
-
- West Field’s Lucas Chugg celebrates a point during a Region 5 boys volleyball match against Fremont on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Plain City.
PLAIN CITY — When expanded upon, the ancient proverb “slow and steady wins the race” means consistent, persistent effort — even at a slow pace — leads to success more effectively than rapid, careless or impulsive actions.
It suggests that dependability and unwavering progress are more valuable in the long run than speed or natural talent alone.
That is how things played out in modern times on Thursday, as Fremont High boys volleyball dropped its first two sets against West Field, then swept three in a row, winning a scintillating Region 5 rivalry match in five sets: 21-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-12.
“West Field has really strong energy. I told my boys yesterday we were going to play steady the whole time; we’re not going to go up and down, and hopefully we survive their passion and pick up our energy level at the end,” Fremont coach Analaine Mailoto said. “But we started too low, we were too steady. You’ve got to have some emotion … we picked it up and started going a little better.”
The Longhorns (5-11, 3-3 Region 5) closed the first set on a kill by outside hitter Aiden Christian and took set two with three straight service points by libero Kayden Bagley before collapsing.
“We had some unforced errors that weren’t necessary, then the next three sets we didn’t miss many serves; started our defense going … we adjusted,” Mailoto said. “I can’t remember what I said, but it was good. Something like ‘stay steady; let’s get a reverse sweep; make them react to us.'”
Fremont libero Korver Lewis had six straight service points in set three and middle hitter Dean Hall got the Silverwolves even at two sets each with a kill to capture set four.
“I noticed a mismatch on the left side, so every time I went up, I had full confidence I could get it done. They couldn’t stop me. (Analaine) is a really good coach and gives us all the guidance we need to succeed,” Hall said. “We knew we were going to come back.”
Hall finished with 13 kills and three blocks for the Silverwolves (5-7, 4-2).
Middle hitter Lucas Eyre had back-to back kills for points 14 and 15 in the final set for Fremont.
“Looking to get up there and put the ball away. Being down and coming back, you have to work really hard and be consistent through the last three sets of the game,” Eyre said. “I felt like we should have been up from the beginning; we only lost the first two sets by three or four points, so we were with them the whole time. We needed to work the rest of the game to pull it off.”
Eyre had 15 kills and two blocks for the match, while Lewis checked in with two aces and 10 digs for the Silverwolves.
Setter Beckham Olsen filled up the stat sheet for Fremont with two aces, 27 assists and seven digs. Setter Nate Broadbent placed 22 assists.
Hall and Lucas, both seniors, took dramatically different approaches to prepping for the Fremont volleyball team.
“This is my second year. (Football coach) Nate Tuatagaloa recommended it,” Hall said. “He said ‘you’re not doing anything in the spring, you might as well go play some volleyball.'”
Meanwhile, Eyre has been playing volleyball since eighth grade and was teammates with three or four of the Longhorn players as a sophomore before West Field opened two years ago.
“It felt really amazing; these guys are like our old rivals. It was great to have a game where we were just positive the whole time and played to the best of our abilities,” Eyre said.
West Field stats were not available by publication time.
