Provo overcomes Springville

SPRINGVILLE — It took Provo a game to warm up, but once the Bulldogs got rolling they had no problem putting Springville away, bouncing back from last week's disappointing, straight-game loss to Lehi.

Provo lost the first game 22-25, then won three straight 26-24, 25-11 and 25-19 Tuesday night to improve to 7-1 in region play, while Springville drops to 4-3.

"We had a disappointing loss against Lehi and we needed this game right here," said Provo coach Wendy Bills. "Our serving was smarter tonight. We seemed to pass better in games two, three and four. Springville is a great team."

Game 2 could have gone either way. it was tied nine times before the Bulldogs went on a 7-1 run with the score 9-9. Kylie Gatenby had two kills in the run while Kara Griffin had a kill and a key block. But the Red Devils responded with six straight capped by Samantha Sumsion's kill to tie the game again at 16. Tied again at 24, Griffin had a key hit to an empty spot, and then Lori Wilson's kill put the game away for the Bulldogs.

"We started off a little rocky," said Provo's Nalani Lobendahn. "But I think once we got through that first game we had the momentum in every single game."

The Bulldogs had plenty of momentum in the third game. Lobendahn hit four winners during a key 10-1 run early in the game to help Provo to a 20-7 lead and then the win.

Provo looked like it might run away with Game 4 as well, as it took control early. A 6-2 run that featured three kills by Lobendahn and a block by Wilson gave the Bulldogs a 15-8 lead. The Red Devils responded with five unanswered points, capped by a Sumsion kill, to pull within two at 13-15. Springville was still within two at 18-20, but the Bulldogs scored five of the next six points to win the match.

In other action Tuesday:

REGION 1

DAVIS DEF. CLEARFIELD 25-23, 25-17, 25-13: Haley Lohrke had 11 kills and six digs and Taya Langston had nine kills and a solo block as the Darts swept the Falcons.

VIEWMONT DEF. LAYTON 27-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-21: Amanda Carter had 10 kills, 10 digs and two blocks and Fiona Jones added 10 kills, 15 digs and a block in the Viking win.

REGION 2

TAYLORSVILLE DEF. SKYLINE 25-22, 17-25, 25-17, 9-25, 15-13: Brita Noble, Kim Gorley, Emily McDonald, Robin Smith and Beth Brown combined for 73 digs as the Warrior defense stepped up in the win.