5A high school volleyball playoffs: Second-ranked Pleasant Grove downs Layton in 4 sets

OREM — Pleasant Grove coach Jamie Schapper didn't say much to her players after they lost the third set in the quarterfinal match against Layton.

"I allowed them to just talk to each other," said Schapper after the Vikings regrouped and won the fourth set to earn the victory 25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 25-13 in the quarterfinals at Utah Valley University's McKay Event Center Friday night. "I think the nerves were there, and they just needed to settle down and play their game. Once they do that ... They're fine."

She said that sometimes the best guidance she can give them is to allow the players to communicate with each other. Once they did that, the second-ranked Vikings were virtually unstoppable.

"We knew their middles were really tough," she said.

Layton's Kathryn Lecheminant and Mariah Katoa are not only dangerous offensively, but they are effective blockers as well. That meant Pleasant Grove middle hitters Kim Dahl and Melissa Rider, who usually play in the shadow of the team's outside hitters, had to really shine.

They did that with Melissa earning four blocks and Kim adding three blocks. Brooke McAlister, who has committed to the University of Utah, led the team's offense with 21 kills and 14 digs, while Danica Mendivil added 10 kills and 28 digs.

Right side Jenn Hamson added 10 kills and three blocks, while setters Kemi McFarland and Rae Mulitalo earned 21 and 23 assists, respectively.

"The first two games we did a good job against their middles," Schapper said.

McAlister said the team relaxed a little too much in the third set.

"Our momentum really dropped," she said. "We didn't have the intensity. It took us losing to bring it back."

She said the team is working toward one goal — the championship match.

"Our main goal is to get to that championship match and play Lone Peak," she said.

Her coach was not alarmed that it took four sets to defeat Layton.

"I am not surprised," she said of needing four sets to defeat third-ranked Layton. "When the team gets anxious, they kind of overdo it. Once you get them settled down, they're amazing."

In Friday's other quarterfinal matches:

Taylorsville def. Davis 25-23, 23-25, 28-26, 25-16

The Warriors were led by senior outside hitter Brita Noble in their quarterfinal win over the Darts.