Weeks and weeks of practices, games, training, and preparation all lead up to one ultimate ending- the State Championship game.  A bid to that final game isn’t in the cards for most teams across the state, but it was not only a possibility, but a reality for the Malad Lady Dragons volleyball team.  Beginning their season, they were unsure just how well they would compete, but as they took down one opponent after another, their goal of a state tournament invitation was becoming less of a hope and more of an actuality.

  As they opened their IHSAA State Volleyball Tournament venture, the Lady Dragons were once again set to play their district opponent, Bear Lake.  In match four, played on Friday, October 27, the Lady Dragons dominated the court as they beat the Bears in only three games.  In their previous matches through their regular season and district tournaments, the scores reflected a close competition on the court.  But in their final matchup of the season, the score only illustrated the Lady Dragon’s ability to take command of the game and never look back as they defeated the Bears for the last time, winning 25-14, 25-18, 25-17.

After they win over Bear Lake, Malad moved on to play Firth, the #7 seed of the tournament that had earlier beaten Kellogg.  Much like their earlier game, the Lady Dragons came out ready to play, focusing only on the game before them.  As they moved their sets against the Cougars, the Lady Dragons not only found ways to exploit their weaknesses, but also how to make the most of their own strengths- dominating hitters, spot on servers, a consistent setter and gritty diggers.  Malad took down Firth in just three games, winning 25-22, 25-19, and 25-12.

With their two opening games behind them, the Lady Dragons were faced with their toughest games of the tournament.  Advancing to the next stage of the tournament, Malad was set to play the Melba Mustangs.  Malad narrowly won the first set as they went 27-25 after trailing behind Melba for most of the game.  The Mustangs were sure they had the first game wrapped up as they led 20-24, when Malad stepped up to put four consecutive points on the board to tie it up at 24 points each.  The final points went back and forth between the two teams until Brynlee Jones put an attack to the left back corner to put them up by one point.  Mickell Keetch floated a jump serve to the Mustangs that set up their own attack from the outside.  Mady VanBebber and Izzy Haycock met the attack with a block, dropping it straight down to win the point and the first game.  In a just as tough and competitive second game, Melba slid past at the finish to win 24-26.    

With each team winning a set, the Lady Dragons came out in the third set with a new drive. Even as the game opened up Malad put on the pressure that not only took Melba out of sync, but clearly shook their whole play.  Getting up 11-2, the Lady Dragons not only played an intense offensive game with some incredible hits, but also played a smart and quick defensive game as they dug every hit the Mustangs sent their way.

As the two teams battled it out, it was the Lady Dragons that dominated the game as they put up 13 points to Melba’s 4.  Brylee Oglesbee put up an impressive run from the service line, sending over four nearly impassable serves.  Just as Melba fell into a better rhythm and started putting a few points on the board, Malad put a hard stop to their progress.  

VanBebber and Haycock put up another big block, followed by a big hit by Haycock.  In addition to great defensive and offensive plays, Malad did well to capitalize on Melba’s mistakes as they sent several hits, serves and tips out of bounds, leading them to take game three 25-10.  The Mustangs replied to the win by coming out big in the fourth game.  They brought out a new intensity that dominated the set, winning it 14-25.

With each team winning two sets, it was down to the fifth and final game.  Play after play, the Lady Dragons went all out in their attempt to win. Hallie Horlsey was relentless as she covered the floor defensively and as she pounded the ball offensively.  Setter Adley Kimberling pushed the Mustangs to the very edges of the court as she found weak spots in their coverage to dump the ball.  Anistyn Tovey and Teagan Daniels added their own saves and digs from the back row to them in the game just as it seemed the play would be over.

With only 15 points to secure the win, both teams were playing all out.  Neither team could keep the lead long as they continued to inch past each other.  Pushing it to extra points, the Mustangs eventually extended their lead by two points to win the match 15-17.

Coming up short against Melba set Malad to next play Cole Valley Christian High.  Despite having just played, the Lady Dragons were full of energy and determination to take the win.  Malad took the first game 25-20 to which Cole Valley answered by winning the second set 26-28.  In another close matchup, the Lady Dragons took the win over the Charges by pulling ahead just at the end 26-24.  Winning two sets to one, Malad was ready to put the game to bed and came out full throttle to win the fourth game 25-17.

In a true double elimination game, the only two teams left in the tournament were the Lady Dragons and the Melba Mustangs.  In their second matchup of the tournament and of the day, the two teams took to the court once again to battle it out.  In an exhausting three game matchup, the Mustangs were able to overcome the Lady Dragons and outscore them 21-25, 18-25 and 23-25.

While they were disappointed to not finish in the top spot, the Lady Dragons accomplished an incredible feat to be named the second place team of the IHSAA State Volleyball tournament.  Coach Camie Tripp spoke of the tournament saying, “While second isn’t the finish we were hoping for, I’m super proud of how hard we fought.  WE knew that first match with Melba was a big deal, and while we did a lot of really great things, we failed to capitalize on opportunities when we had a chance to seal the deal and that came back on us

“In the end, a few too many unforced errors down the stretch is what cost us.  It’s so hard to lose those close ones.  I was so proud of the girl’s resiliency to bounce back and beat Cole Valley, but we ran out of gas down the stretch (and still kept it close) the second time against Melba.  They fought so hard- I’m just so proud of them!”