Knights refuse to fold

PLEASANT GROVE — The Lone Peak Knights are the No. 1-ranked volleyball team in the state for a reason. No matter how far they might fall behind in a game, they don't lose.

And they weren't about to start losing, even a single game, against their biggest rival Pleasant Grove, which they swept 25-23, 25-18, 25-20 on Thursday night. So, when the Vikings came from behind to pull even at 22-22 against Lone Peak, the Knights just decided they weren't going to let the Vikings take the game, and they didn't.

Aubrey Muaina put down one of her many key kills in the contest to give the Knights the first-game victory and a good start to a good match against a Vikings team that has improved tremendously since the start of the region season.

"I think that my team's pretty experienced in that situation. They don't lose focus," said Lone Peak coach Deanna Meyer, who added they just know how to play in tight situations and have plenty of confidence in themselves and in each other.

But in Game 1, the Knights had to contend with Pleasant Grove hitter Brooke McAllister, who slammed down eight kills to keep things close. But the Knights figured out the Vikings' top hitter, and Pleasant Grove started going away from her after the first game. She finished with 12 kills on the night.

Though the Knights put together a team effort yet again with their balanced and deep attack, it was Muaina who led the state's top squad with eight kills, no errors and a hitting percentage just under .500.

"She had some key kills at important times. She just put the ball down. She made some really clutch plays tonight," said Meyer.

And many of those key kills came late in Game 2, just in the middle of a Lone Peak streak as the Knights finished off the Vikings with a 13-4 run after finding themselves behind 12-14.She smashed four kills in five points, and afterward the Knights found themselves with a 21-16 lead.

The most exciting of her great hits, though came at the end of that streak, when the Vikings spiked the ball, and Heather Hannemann used her head to dig it up and back over the net, eventually leading to the Muaina kill.

Ashton Gray had a huge night for the Knights as well with 10 kills, 2.5 blocks and an ace. Meyer also noted how well Hannemann, Faith Tusieseina and Hillary Olsen played overall in the match.

Lacey Cramer led the Knights with 13 kills, including one on a great back row attack on an assist by Hannemann.

Star server and setter Lacey Laycock finished the match with 31 assists and three aces for her Knights, but her most impressive streak came when the Knights found themselves behind 6-11 in the third game. When she was done serving her team held a commanding 16-11 lead, which they never relinquished .

Though the Vikings are getting stronger every match and should throw some scares into the other teams at state, the Knights are gaining momentum and looking more unbeatable every time out as they not only haven't lost a match in region action, they haven't even lost a game and are running away with the region championship.

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E-mail: jolsen@desnews.com