By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]

The Herriman High boys volleyball team got off to a rough start to begin the season but regrouped and placed sixth in the Utah Boys Volleyball Association state tournament May 10–11. 

“We struggled mightily at the beginning where we were trying to find our identity and see where everyone was going to fit,” said assistant coach Mark McNees. “We had some brand-new faces that ultimately served in starting roles.”

The Mustangs rebounded from an eighth-place showing in their regular season to defeat East, Skyline, Olympus and Corner Canyon to reach the region championship game against Bingham. In the title match, Herriman lost both sets by a total of three points to finish second. 

“We played our best volleyball of the year against Corner Canyon, and we felt like we were peaking at the right moment,” McNees said.

At state, the Mustangs battled through injuries and sickness to defeat Davis and narrowly lose to Lone Peak to put them in the fifth-place game where they lost to Olympus in three sets for a sixth-place showing.

McNees noted captain Peyton Colemere’s “great season” and credited starting outside hitter John Mack and starting middle blocker Jacob McNees for their “huge” contributions as newcomers this season.

Also, on the Herriman squad this season, also coached by Shea Fahnestock, was Koleman Chidester, Kenyon Colemere, Brady Farmer, Daxton Owens, Taylor Pugmire and Parker Reynolds.

The Utah Boys Volleyball Association was created five years ago to grow the sport that had already been competing for more than two decades. There were 70 teams fielded throughout the state this season.

“The growth of boys volleyball in the last five years has been incredible,” Copper Hills head coach Earle Fenstermaker said. “I have seen new schools in our league and heard this was the largest state tournament. Also, in the club level there are more and more clubs adding teams and new clubs popping up.”

Although boys volleyball is not currently sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association, discussions are ongoing as the sport gains more and more momentum.

UBVA president Jill Davis said, “Anyone who has ever seen boys play at a competitive level know it is a very different and exciting game to watch. There is increased interest and support from the community, and we hope UHSAA will adopt boys volleyball in the near future.”

For more information on the UBVA, visit www.ubva.info or email [email protected].