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Springville • Chances are likely that, down the line, the matches will be much closer when region powers Springville and Salem Hills get together for a little volleyball.

But on Thursday, it was Class 4A's top-ranked Red Devils that pulled away from the #4 Skyhawks in every game of a 25-19, 26-24, 25-20 sweep. Springville senior Amanda Schultz stroked home 16 kills, but the outside hitter said it's been an all-around effort that's led the Devils to a 5-0 start.

"There's a lot of senior leadership on the court at all times and we feel comfortable setting anyone the ball," Schultz said. "Just no worries wherever it goes."

That versatility was on display in the second game as Springville worked its way to a 21-15 lead. In winning eight of ten points at one stretch, right side hitter Tyree Strong got a kill despite hitting at a tough angle and fellow junior Nicole Wheeler showed good patience in the middle before rising up to swat home another kill.

Salem Hills (4-1), as was the case in every game, didn't go away easily in the second. The Skyhawks got a kill from Callie Peterson, their leader with six, and the next five points went the visitors' way with Peterson doing the serving.

Middle hitter Sadie Lundquist was instrumental in the stretch as she blocked away consecutive kill attempts at one point.

But at 24-24, Red Devils' outside Savannah Sumsion scored a kill and Springville clinched the game on an errant attempt from the Skyhawks on the next point.

"We wish we would've had a little longer match, but we've got a lot to work on," Salem Hills coach Kathy Treanor said. "It's nice at the beginning of the season, if you have a loss, to take that home and work on it."

In the third game, the home team held an apparently comfortable 16-9 lead when Salem Hills reeled off seven straight points - this time with junior Megan Treanor doing the serving - to even the score.

But a pair of missed kill attempts by the Skyhawks started the Red Devils off on a 7-1 run to regain command.

Besides Schultz' output, Sumsion had seven kills for the victors.

Both teams will play in the Rocky Mountain tournament today and Saturday. Springville's second day of the tourney should be interesting as several players are scheduled that day for ACT testing - including setter Courtney Mackay, Strong and libero Cassidy Bowers.

"Our players are entirely supportive, there's no negativity, and that's really unique," Springville coach Julia Smith said. "That's what makes us a strong team, so we can bounce back under pressure, when we're down or when the other team's got a few points in a row."