Girls volleyball: Resilient Weber twice rallies from 1 set down to beat Fremont in 5
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- Weber High’s Hanna Longhurst (27) and teammates celebrate during a girls volleyball match against Fremont on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Pleasant View.
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- Fremont’s Sadie Parrish serves against Weber in a girls volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Maddie Zabriskie (11) dives for the ball in a girls volleyball match against Fremont on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Hanna Longhurst (27) tries to beat the Fremont block of Mia Mcarthur (22) and Maya Jensen (32) in a girls volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Pleasant View.
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- Fremont’s Atley Mitchell (9) and Jessica Broadbent (27) celebrate a point against Weber in a girls volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Pleasant View.
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- Fremont’s Maya Jensen (32) and Atley Mitchell (9) attempt a block on Weber’s Hanna Longhurst (27) in a girls volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Pleasant View.
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- Fremont’s Atley Mitchell digs a ball during a girls volleyball match at Weber on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s bench celebrates a point against Fremont in a girls volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Pleasant View.
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- Fremont students celebrate during in a girls volleyball match at Weber on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Hanna Longhurst (27) hits as Fremont’s Mia Mcarthur (22) jumps to block in a girls volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Katelynn Field prepares to serve against Fremont in a girls volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Pleasant View.
PLEASANT VIEW — Teenage girls are resilient, and Weber’s volleyball team showed that in a big way Thursday against Region 1 foe Fremont.
The Warriors were swept in three sets Tuesday and were playing against their rival without head coach Renae Birch, who was at a funeral.
But Weber rallied from a 2-1 deficit, capturing the final two sets, for a come-from-behind victory over the Silverwolves (19-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 15-9).
“I was really nervous … the girls did a good job adjusting to a different coach and listening and applying the strategies we put in place,” assistant coach Sarah Smith said. “They found a rhythm and worked together as a team; didn’t get on each other and were able to find success.
“We lost to Farmington (Tuesday) and didn’t play well at all. Coming off that low was actually motivating. Renae asked the girls to take ownership in winning and losing in their practice yesterday.”
Fremont (7-2, 2-1 Region 1) won the first set after trailing 17-15. The Silverwolves went on an 8-1 run, with sophomore Olivia Surrage doing the damage as a server, to lead 23-18, then closed it out.
Weber (9-8, 2-1) pulled even at one set apiece before Fremont again went up a set with a tight win in the third.
There was no panic among the Warriors, though, as they took on the mantra of their assistant coach.
“I try to think of every set as a new game. I’m like, we competed, now we can do better — what mistakes did we make and what can we do better,” Smith said. “I don’t care about the last set; that’s out of it. I’m focusing forward.”
Jumping to a quick 5-1 lead in the fourth set, Weber evened the match at two sets each and set the stage for the finale.
“We had some good assists in the set and kept our mentality in the right place, and our attitude high,” Weber senior setter Maddie Zabriskie said. “The game isn’t over ’til it’s over. We had confidence in ourselves and our preparation.”
When Fremont opened the fifth set with a daunting 4-0 lead, Weber’s mentality was tested and the Warriors responded with six straight points off the damaged right arm of Zabriskie.
“Our trainer says I have a strained biceps, but I’m good to go for the season,” Zabriskie said. “My teammates helped me out a lot with their energy — really, props to them. I think we had a lot of momentum going into that set, so it gave me confidence to go out there and go after my serves.”
Zabriskie had eight digs and Katelynn Field added nine kills for the Warriors.
“Winning a rivalry match is definitely huge, especially at home. It’s always a big win; I’m super excited to keep this rivalry alive and go into region 2-1,” Zabriskie said. “I feel like ‘why not us.’ We wanted to come in and show them what we could do. Our team is coming together; anxious to see what we can do.”
The Silverwolves had the glossy record coming in but couldn’t maintain the one-set advantage they twice held.
“I think everybody in our region is similar, were all young, so teams are going to have ebbs and flows,” Fremont coach Analaine Mailoto said. “We just missed some connections today.”
