5A high school volleyball championship: Vikings sweep Knights

OREM — Coach Jamie Schapper knows how it feels to hold the state championship trophy in her hands after a long season of hard work. She did it in 2001 as a player for Pleasant Grove High School.

That joy, however, was eclipsed when the coach watched the players she's taught, advised and loved find that same kind of success in the 5A state championship game Saturday night.

"I have to talk in the moment," she said, choking back emotion, after the Vikings swept defending champion, Lone Peak, the same team that broke their hearts last season, to claim the 5A state title. "To teach these girls, to help them learn ... it's definitely more rewarding."

Pleasant Grove earned its revenge in a thrilling title match 25-16, 25-16, 26-24, and finished the season with just a single loss to a Utah squad.

"I knew from the start, when I came to this program, that this was a state championship team," she said. "The team took it humbly this year, respecting everyone and just trying to play our game...We had a saying this year, 'We don't repeat, we defeat.'"

That they did in a profound way as they dominated the tournament with nearly flawless defense and powerful offense. The team was led in the championship match by senior outside hitter and Deseret News All-Tournament MVP Danica Mendivil. She finished with 19 kills and 15 digs, her second double-double of the day. Kim Dahl added 13 kills, 3 aces and six digs, while Jen Hamsen earned nine kills and two solo blocks. Setter Kemi McFarland was huge with 23 assists, 13 digs, three aces and five kills.

"Danica proves herself a leader on and off the court," said Schapper. "She's one of the top leaders I've ever seen."

But it was the defensive players — including Mendivil — on both sides of the net that shined brightest in the title match. Viking libero McKell Staheli, a sophomore who stands about 5-foot, earned 27 digs in a jaw-dropping performance.

"I couldn't be more proud of them," said Schapper of her defensive specialist that included senior Heidi Lloyd. "They were money. They ran our system. They were definitely the key to our success."

Staheli said she gravitated to libero because she loved the game, but knew she'd never rule the net.