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OREM — Marcie Stapley’s final match of her high school career was one to remember.
The senior middle blocker at Morgan High helped her team build up a dominant 2-0 over North Sanpete. But when the third set came, Stapley found herself on the bench.
After the Hawks fought back to a 6-2 lead in the third set, Stapley re-entered the match — and led an overwhelming comeback to put away the Trojans’ third-straight Class 3A state championship, 25-11, 25-11, 25-21 with her 15th kill of the night at Utah Valley University.
And she did it all on one ankle.
“These are my girls,” said Stapley, who also posted two blocks. “We’ve played club forever, all throughout high school, and it was a great experience to end with my seniors on a win.”
Stapley tore a tendon in her ankle, but delayed having surgery until next week to not jeopardize her shot at a third-straight state championship, and the 18th overall title for the Trojans (26-4).
“She’s tough as nails,” Morgan coach Liz Wiscombe said of Stapley. “That kid will go out and herd cows and brand them; she’s a farm girl. Farm girls know they’ve got a job to do, and they don’t get a day off. They are moving.
“I knew she’d be mentally tough enough. She’s stiff and sore right now, but you wouldn’t know it by her play.”
That’s not to say that it didn’t hurt. But adrenaline took over, Stapley said.
“It was rough, I’ll admit it. But my team has helped me a lot,” she added. “They keep telling me that I can do hard things, and my family and coaches have done everything they can to get me ready for this.”
The @morgantrojans are the 3A state champs. Their 3rd consecutive title. #kslsportspic.twitter.com/33L0vGXPlR
— Matthew L Glade (@matthewLksl) October 27, 2017
After a pair of 25-11 wins in the first set, Wiscombe tried to give Stapley a few moments off to start the third. But the Hawks (23-8) used the absence to rally.
The Trojans didn’t trail until North Sanpete served its second ace of the match to go up in the third set, and the Hawks jumped out to a 6-2 lead early in the decisive third set.
But Morgan didn’t go away, using a 6-1 run to tie the set at 7-7 and eventually went up 13-10 on Stapley’s booming kill to take a lead the Trojans would never relinquish.
Junior setter Ellee Anderson dished out 23 assists, two kills and two blocks for the Trojans, and teammate Baylee Loertscher supplied eight kills.
Allyssa Erecksen distributed 13 assists for North Sanpete, which got five kills each from Shelby Ison, Kelsie Nielson and Aubree Ison.
“That was awesome. I feel really good, and I feel better for those kids,” Wiscombe said. “Those kids worked really hard to get here, and it paid off.
“That’s a great North Sanpete team, but watching Morgan sweep through them was fun.”
