Volleyball and Cross Country

Timp Sports Weekly

September 4, 2012

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at recent home wins posted by the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen and Leho Pioneer volleyball teams. We also look at American Fork dominating the recent pre-region cross country meet held on the Awesome Cavemen's campus. Let's get to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavewomen Corral Herimman Pretty Ponies in 5-Game Volleyball Match Aug. 30

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavewomen didn't let themselves get stampeded by the Herimman Mustangs, AKA the Pretty Ponies, during a five-game volleyball match played at American Fork Aug. 30. After dropping the first two games to the Pretty Ponies, the Awesome Cavewomen clubbed their way back to win by scores of 24-26, 13-25, 25-15, 25-16, 15-8.

By the way the first two games looked, the Awesome Cavewomen seemed to be no match for the Pretty Ponies. In the first game, for example, server Massi Steel guided the Pretty Ponies out to a 9-0 lead through the hitting of Jacey Suander, Courtney Jones, and Megan Nelson. Suddenly, Awesome Cavewoman Kelsey Leatham registered a kill, which sparked an American Fork comeback. Leatham and Alesa Pettit's combined hitting permitted Jessie Eakins and Letham to rally the Cavewomen to club their way back to pulling ahead 12-11. A short series of switches in the lead followed as Maddy Sanders and Kassidy Roberts guided American Fork efforts to neutralize Steel and Kenzie Jackson at the net. When a Roberts kill tied the game at 21, the Awesome Cavewomen looked as though they would come out the winners after all. However, they missed a serve. That service error gave the Pretty Ponies the momentum they needed to win the first game.

The second game was close for a little while, but hitting by Sadie Pond gave the Pretty Ponies the momentum they needed to stampede their way out to a 25-13 lead.

The Pretty Ponies might have finished the Awesome Cavewomen off in the third game. However, Roberts, Pettit, Eakins, Leatham, and Sanders stirred up an effort to that enabled American Fork to win 25-15. The 10-point triumph gave the Awesome Cavewomen the momentum they needed to win the next two games by scores of 25-16 and 15-8.

Lehi Froggies Spike Taylorsville Road Warriors in 4-Game Match Aug. 28

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly

The Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, opened their home volleyball season with a four-game win against the Taylorsville Warriors, AKA the Redwood Road Warriors, Aug. 28. Lehi took down Taylorsville by scores of 25-15, 25-18, 23-25, 25-18.

Spurred on by the serving of Ashley Robbins, the Froggies hopped out to an early 8-1 lead. For a little while, the Redwood Road Warriors' shortage of seniors (they have only one 12th-grader on the team this year) played to Lehi's advantage. Froggies Alexis Baker, Courtney Walker, Hailey Rupp, and comic strip character Beetle Bailey's "distant cousin" BreElle Bailey had a heyday at the net as Taylorsville senior Dani Ahlstrom battled to keep her Redwood Road Warriors' morale up. Taylorsville  drove back within 10-9, but Carly White's serving gave Lehi much momentum to row away. Finally, McKayala Houghton's hitting produced a 25-15 win for the Froggies.

In the second game, Ahlstrom guided the Redwood Road Warriors tie the game at three. However, Bailey and Houghton's combined hitting power kept them in check throughout the entire second game. 

In the third game, the Redwood Road Warriors turned out to be more aggressive. Lehi did stay ahead for much of the third game. The Redwood Road Warriors' aggressiveness couldn't be controlled this time. With Taylorsville tying the game at 16 and 17, the Redwood Road Warriors were bound to pull ahead at some point. They finally did when they broke the tied score of 17-17.  The serving of Mouvann Jameson kept the Redwood Road Warriors slightly ahead for a little while. However, Lehi eventually tied the game at 20. Hitting errors tripped up Lehi, and a Tara Gregory kill gave Taylorsville a 25-23 win.

In taking a 5-1 lead in the fourth game, the Froggies didn't underestimate the talent of Taylorsville's really young players this time. Gregory and Ahlstrom guided the Road Warriors back within 7-6. Hits by Bailey, Rupp, and Brynn Christensen stirred up a rally that created a 21-10 lead for the Froggies. The Road Warriors refused to throw aside their swords and give up. Morgan Guevara joined Ahlstrom, Whitney Olsen in pacing the Redwood Road Warriors back within 24-18. Bailey registered a kill that clutched the win for the Froggies. 

Bailey led Lehi with 16 kills while Houghton contributed another 11. White produced 21 digs, Rupp eight blocks, and Robbins five aces.

Lehi Coach Jamie Ingersoll said, "There were some sparks of flint in our performance tonight. Our performance just wasn't what it should have been tonight. We gave up too many service errors. It's difficult to build momentum on those things. Even though they're young, Taylorsville is always a team you should never overlook."

Awesome AF Caveharriers Dominate Both Ends of Pre-Region Cross Country Meet Aug. 29

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen and Cavewomen both came up on top in the Aug. 29 pre-region cross country meet held at American Fork.

Even though no Awesome Cavewomen won the girls' division, they still have seven runners finish in the top 10 to score a team win. Among American Fork's top seven girl finsihers, Makayla Stepp took third, Maddie Bench fourth, Amber Bardin fifth, Emily Orton sixth, Lexie Green seventh, Diane Leach eighth, and Sophie Baird ninth.

The girls' race boiled down to being a contest between Bingham's Emily Rich and Lehi's Jackie Heaps. Rich won the race while Heaps finished second.

American Fork dominated the top 10 finishes in the boys' race. Among the Cavemen's top 10 finishers, Connor McMillian took first, Brayden McLelland third, Tyson Green fourth, Zac Jacklin fifth, Caleb Thompson sixth, Spencer Herzog 10th, and Stephen Robbins 14th.

American Fork Coach Bruno Hunziker said, "I knew we ran a little faster than we did at the Grass Relays. With our girls placing third through ninth, tonight was the first time that we had a 30-second difference between our No. 1 and No. 6 girls. I was pleased with how our girls improved since last week."

Lehi Coach Matt Rowe said, "We finished fifth in the both the girls and boys' divisions. We had some girls getting through some injuries. Still, I am proud at how well Jackie did in her race tonight."

For the Lehi Froggies in the girls' division, Emily Allen took 11th, Kenzie Draper 14th, Angie Blackburn 20th, Tiffany Henderson 37th, Kaylie Bartholemew 47th, and Sam Austin 48th.

For the Froggies in the boys' division, Chance Honeke took 22nd, Brad Smith 25th, Dallin Griffin 36th, Connor Arnell 37th, Joe Pickett 46th, Tyson Raff 51st, and Shane Colllier 52nd.

For the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings in the girls' division, Amelia Fullmer took 125h, Tanya Whetten 14th, Rachel Davis 35th, Nicole Tucker 36th, Brittany McArthur 37th, Faith Olson 42nd, and Melissa Reid 45th.

For the Ferocious Vikings in the boys' division, Tanner Beckstrand took 39th, Tanner Nelson 42nd, Alden Hodges 45th, Eric Mitchell 50th, Jay Couts 51st, and Mike Hansen 54th.

For the Lone Peak Loners in the girls' division, Ashlyn Gates took 27th, Amelia Southworth 28th, Valerie Evans 29th, Amanda Harvey 30th, Balyn Slembaski 32nd, Arianna Higbee 30th, and and Aime King 39th.

For the Loners in the boys' division, Cole Walton took 11th, Adam Goff 12th, Jon Cahoon 13th, Tommy Johnson 19th,  Marc Johnson 21st, and Jacob Warner 23rd.