4A volleyball tournament: Timpview knocks off Box Elder

OREM — Kristen Bailey's hands were shaking as she tried to discuss stats and scores.

"Yes, I am shaking. That was awesome," said the Timpview volleyball coach after the fourth-ranked T-birds defeated the third-ranked Box Elder Bees 22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-23 in the quarterfinals of the 4A state volleyball tournament at UVU. "This has been amazing. Timpview hasn't been to the state tournament in 13 years."

In fact, the T-birds have only won a single region game in each of the last three years. They were tied for last or last place every season of her four years as head coach.

"And now we have this," she said motioning to her celebrating squad.

The T-birds started their first tournament appearance in 13 years with a sweep of Cyprus.

But the quarterfinal win did not start with the kind of intensity Bailey would have liked. The Bees won the first set and the coach admitted she was worried about the slow start.

"I was a little nervous," she said. "I'm not going to lie. Volleyball is about momentum, and we were kind of a maybe in that first game."

Bailey said the key to turning the program around has been the extra work and commitment invested by the players.

"Consistency in our play," she said. "From our summer program to being involved in club, these girls have worked hard and it shows."

Her players said the work was worth it as they enjoyed their best season in many years.

"We worked so hard during the off-season," said Jorgensen, a sophomore setter who finished with 20 assists and 12 kills. "We had two early morning practices a week, and we really just had the mentality that this was our year."

She said it was the leadership of the team's two seniors — Katie Jamison and Rachel Stone — and all the extra work the girls invested that took the team from the back of the pack to a co-region championship.

"It was amazing," she said of the team's two wins Friday. "Finally we made it here, and it feels so good to win both matches and prove to everyone that we belong here."

Jorgensen got a lot of help Friday from her teammates in holding off a tough, talented Bees squad. Junior setter Megan Huddleston added 11 kills and 16 assists, while senior libero Katie Jamison picked up 19 digs and served three aces. Sophomore outside hitter Lauryn Dela Cruz added another 19 digs and 10 kills.