High school volleyball: Pleasant Grove and Lone Peak should be strong again at net

By Jaclyn Olsen
For the Deseret News
Published: Friday, Aug. 29, 2008 12:24 a.m. MDT
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It all comes down to a big bulls eye. Where will that glaring target land as this year's high school volleyball season gets underway?

Two of the state's top 5A prospective target hosts will, as usual, hail from Region 4. Lone Peak lays claim to three of the last five state championship banners and a position in five straight state tourney finals. Pleasant Grove has met the Knights there three times and taken home a single top trophy of its own in the same five-year span.

So, drum roll please, who is this year's class 5A favorite before the season even begins?

And the envelope says Pleasant Grove as voted on by Region 4 foes.

In spite of the fact that the Vikings are breaking in new head coach Jamie Schapper and one of their top hitters, junior Danika Mendivil, is coming off of an ACL tear and subsequent surgery last season, Pleasant Grove has garnered the top spot in the minds of a majority of the other coaches. However, the defending state champion Knights are by no means being thought of lightly.

"We have the talent and we have a good team chemistry. I was just excited to see the talent we have here," new Pleasant Grove coach Schapper said, but she doesn't want her team resting on its early season laurels.

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"I don't want them to get too big of heads. They need to earn the target on their backs," Schapper added.

Barring injuries the Vikings have a powerful hitting squad that is already turning some heads. Even Lone Peak coach Deanna Meyer concedes that Pleasant Grove has some amazing hitters.

The team will be led by University of Utah signee and outside hitter, senior Brooke McAllister, whom her coach says can "rocket it." She will be joined on the outside by the highly respected Mendivil, who can also slam the ball and place it well. "She's our energy. The knee is not a problem," said Schapper about Mendivil, who showed great improvement during the club season on her repaired knee. Mendivil was injured last season during the preseason at the Rocky Mountain Classic, which is a tournament hosted at Lone Peak and Lehi for many of the top teams in the state.

Intimidating presence and 6-foot-5 junior Jennifer Hamson is frightening at the net and has improved drastically since the beginning of the 2007 season. She won't be playing middle this year but will be suiting up at opposite.

The middle will be manned by junior Melissa Rider and sophomore Kim Dahl, who both played varsity last season. And perhaps the most entertaining and problematic areas will come at setter. Two very high quality setters in Kemi McFarland and American Fork transfer Rae Mulitalo will be battling for the position. Both have great hands, and Schapper maintains that while it will be tough to choose between the two, she's going to try to give the spot to whomever takes on the leadership role the best. It's possible this position could change throughout the year.

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Recent comments

We love u Rae MulitaLo!
U deserved to win, just get them next year…

PG FAN!! | Nov. 10, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

ummm.. do you remember when PG beat lonepeak at their own tournament…

Anonymous | Sept. 17, 2008 at 5:46 p.m.

our girls have so much heart and talent!!! pg may want to watch out…

LP FAN!!!!! | Sept. 5, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.