Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
OREM — The 2023 4A state champion Orem Tigers have been nearly perfect all season, going a dominant 27-4 with all four losses coming outside of region play. One of those losses was their opponent in the state championship in Park City.
The Miners, who have been equally good and had a 24-7 record and 11-1 in region play, set up a thrilling 4A state title match as both teams won their region titles.
But for the Tigers, lightning struck twice. Orem swept the Miners 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-14) to win its second consecutive title.
"I'm speechless," head coach Bill Sefita said. "There were a lot of trials and errors. We lost three seniors last year, but our freshman had the pressure on their back. But I told the girls to fall in love with the pressure, don't let it be a distraction."
Trials and errors came throughout the season, but it seemed like a comfortable effort in the state title game as Orem dominated the Miners by allowing 29 total points in the final two sets.
In the first set, the Miners got to work early by jumping out to a 8-4 lead. But the Tigers were not phased. They put together a 12-3 run to take a 16-11 lead and its home crowd from just three miles away was loving it.
Block after block, kill after kill, the Tigers' early comeback energized the team to a 25-21 opening set victory, backed by an impressive performance from outside hitter Madi Scott.
Scott, a freshman, sealed the set with a vicious kill to put Orem ahead 1-0.
"She's a coachable kid. She just works her butt off," Sefita said on Scott.
Scott's impressive day continued when she recorded three consecutive kills to allow Orem to take a critical 18-13 lead.
Between Scott's arm and Kambri Kuhni's height, the Tigers dominated the net, limiting the Miners ability to get powerful swings.
"It did not feel great starting slow, but Bill talked to us and we tried to go strong from there," Scott said.
Scott finished the game with a game-high 12 kills on 15 attacks.
Kuhni would put together some impressive swings of her own, wowing the crowd with back-to-back kills late in the second set and the final point to cruise Orem to a 25-15 set 2 win.
The third set showed much of what happend in the first two, Orem controlling everything from the serve to the whistle. The Tigers jumped out to a 10-3 lead, prompting a Park City timeout.
The Tigers would end the set on a 15-8 run, clinching their second consecutive title.
"It honestly feels so great," Scott said. "My sister won as a freshman so I wanted to do it too."
