Rich Rebels volleyball sweeps Richfield tournament

The Rich High Rebels won their first-ever Richfield tournament this weekend, after being close for many years. They varsity and junior varsity teams both won, bringing on a celebration in center court after an 8-0 run over the course of two days.

After 16 state championships and one of the most winning coaches in any high school sport in Utah, it’s hard to find something Rich High volleyball coach Cindy Stuart has not accomplished in this sport. She knew she had a seasoned team and a shot at winning this year.

“I just knew we could win this tournament and have known I had the team to do it before, but we always came short” Stuart said. “I wanted it this year for this group of seniors that have worked so hard.”

Sixteen teams in the state use this annual tournament to prepare for a good showing at the state tournament in two weeks. The Rebels were one of the favored teams, having done well against the best 3A, 4A, and 5A teams in the state during summer league play. Teams from Delta, Enterprise, Richfield, and North Sanpete also had a shot at winning this year.

The first day saw the 16 teams divided into an upper eight and a lower eight. In best-out-of-three play, the Rebels took care of Piute, Beaver, and Richfield in two games each. Richfield gave the Rebels their toughest test with their height and blocks on the shorter Rebels, and Richfield, with a seasoned coach, played well enough to stay in the upper eight.

The second day found the Rebels facing North Summit and taking the team 25-18 and 25-11. Against Carbon, the Rebels went 25-19 and 25-12. The next three opponents would test the Rebels to the limit, but they had already made it to the gold final four. The Rebels took on North Sanpete and won the first game 25-20, lost the second 21-25, and hammered North Sanpete in the third 15-6.

The final four teams were Rich, Enterprise, North Sanpete, and Delta. The Rebels went up against the Enterprise Wolves and prevailed in the first game 25-12, behind the lead of veteran senior setter Cassidy McKee and the kills of outside hitter Courtney Lamborn, with junior Lynzee Wallentine getting points off serves and kills as well.

The Wolves came back in the second game and won it in a tight battle, 25-23. The Rebels came away flustered as their play was not what they had seen over the last few weeks, with missing serves and unforced errors. They continued that in Game 3, finding themselves down 11-4 in a game to 15 points.