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PCHS girls’ volleyball: Rivalry advantage: Miners

Christopher Kamrani, The Park Record

Prior to her introduction to the Park City-Wasatch rivalry, first-year Miners head coach Ashley Driscoll was informed of just one thing: be sure to avoid wearing any yellow.

In Park City’s Region 10 home opener Tuesday night, it was the Miners who left the Wasps feeling yellow after defeating their rival 3-1 in front of a raucous crowd.

Park City beat Wasatch 25-13, 22-25, 25-16, 25-11 in four sets to topple its rival in the first meeting of 2012.

"I knew beforehand that Wasatch was the big rival," Driscoll said. "(The Miners) were pumped up and you could tell after the game they were really excited that we had won. It was a great start to our home region play."

Tressa Buckland led the Miners in kills with 12, while Chrissy Glasmann (10) and Megan Glasmann (9) helped the Park City outside attack. Hailey Whipple helped quell the Wasatch attack with 15 blocks from her middle-blocker position. Sierra Shearer led the way in digs with 30 and Sammee Thomas had another stellar outing with 32 assists.

Driscoll said her team’s ability to cut down on mental mistakes has helped the Miners to a hot start this season.

"Our unforced errors were the best they’ve been all season because there weren’t many," she said. "(The Miners) were focused and really wanted that win. All of our attacks, we didn’t give them any free balls. We had an opportunity every time the ball was on our side of the net. We were not rushing our serves and were focusing on getting our hits to certain zones instead of just slamming away; cutting down on those unforced errors is definitely helping."

After Park City lost its Region 10 opener at Juan Diego 3-0 last week, Driscoll said the team had to shore up its blocking. Whipple and her teammates answered the call, helping to stuff the Wasatch hitting.

"We got used a lot on the block by Juan Diego," she said. "I think that showed (that we worked on it) in the match against Wasatch."

According to Driscoll, Thomas, Park City’s sophomore setter, was named Utah Player of the Week a week ago by MaxPreps.com.

"That is strictly based on stats. There is no nomination process," she said. "It definitely speaks to her playing. She’s definitely a strong force on the court. She plays great defense and has really learned our offense and has great connection with our hitters."

The Miners hosted another Region 10 rival Thursday night at Park City High School in the Union Cougars and continued their winning ways defeating the visitors 3-0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-15). Next week, Park City is at Judge Memorial in Salt Lake City Tuesday and at Uintah in Vernal on Thursday.

"They know exactly what they want to do this season," Driscoll said. "They’re working hard for every point and going for the win and not just going out to play — that’s making a big difference."

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