High school volleyball: Warriors picked best in state

Alaina Parker knows that returning all but one of last year's state championship team makes the Snow Canyon Warriors a target.

"We're the team to beat now," Parker said of the Warriors, who were ranked No. 1 in all classifications in a preseason poll of volleyball coaches. "The challenge for us will be staying sharp. ... It's really hard playing in a 3A region."

Parker tries to line up the toughest preseason matches possible so that her young players understand what it will take to get back into that 4A state championship match.

Some might be taking the Warriors' appearance in that game for granted. They have won four straight titles — one in 3A and three in 4A — and in every title contest, they had to defeat their Region 9 rival, Dixie.

Parker lost one starter to graduation, but she returns two of this year's top college recruits — her daughter, junior setter Ciara Parker (who is being recruited as a libero) and sophomore outside hitter McKenzie Willey.

"They got the full treatment from BYU this last weekend," said Parker of the duo's unofficial visit. "They went to the volleyball game on Friday and then the football game Saturday."

The girls were impressed with the experience, but both should see a lot more offers and go on a lot more campus visits before they settle on a school.

"It's a tough process," said Alaina Parker. "It's very overwhelming, and we don't want them to make a hasty choice."

Willey's older brother has committed to BYU in golf.

In addition to Willey and Ciara Parker, the Warriors boast talent like Taylor Muphey, Stacey Benton, Leah Heyer and Lexi Esplin.

"We have a lot of talent," acknowledged Parker. "But we're very human. We're finding a lot of flaws, a lot of cracks as we go."

The Warriors have managed to win despite their growing pains. They are 10-0 going into region play this week, and they've beaten some of the state's best teams in Lone Peak, Pleasant Grove and Lehi.

The Knights were chosen as 5A's pre-season No. 1 team despite losing some talent to graduation. That's because they return some impressive players, including outside hitter Ashlan Rogers, setter Kix Adolpho, middle Whitney Johnson, and outside/setter/libero Marquelle Funk.