Butte County heads to Championship Saturday with 3-peat within reach

REXBURG – The Butte County volleyball team’s quest for a 3-peat at the state championships continues.

The top-seeded Pirates downed Murtaugh 25-23, 17-25, 25-18, 25-9 to advance to play the winner of Valley-Troy on Saturday. The winner of that match moves into the championship match.

“It took us a minute to warm up,” Butte County coach Lindsey Hymas said after the Pirates had to rally to win the first game, and then fell behind again and lost the second game.

But the Pirates (23-4) cruised in the third and fourth game, riding a strong serving performance in the fourth games, while taking care of business on the offensive end.

Several players have been competing together since they were in sixth and seventh grade, senior Addison Pancheri said.

“We trust each other, we work hard,” she said. “We know what we can do and we trust each other so we’ll be able to play like we know how to play.”

The Pirates fell behind early in the first two games. They were able to finish strong to take the first game, but Murtaugh, the No. 5 seed, easily took the second game.

“There’s definitely been times we’ve been in a panic, but that just makes us get down on ourselves,” senior Taylee Roberts said, noting there was no panic after splitting the first two game.

That was the case Friday as Butte County controlled the final two games and put an exclamation point on the match after jumping out a 10-0 lead in the fourth.

Hymas, in her first year as head coach at Butte County, said she obviously knew the bar was set high when she took over the program. She’d worked with several players at the club level and said she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.

“I stepped into a fantastic team,” she said. “It’s always been a standard, they’ve always wanted it. A majority of the girls have played varsity since freshman year. They know how to win, they know how to get it done … Everyone is so happy for each other and for playing with each other.”

Hymas said a tough schedule also played a part in keeping the team focused during its postseason run.

Butte County previously played Murtaugh, along with 2A state tournament team Valley. The Pirates played 6A No. 1 seed Rigby and lost 2-1. They beat 1A top seed Rockland, and also beat 5A tournament team Hillcrest. They lost to 4A state tournament team Sugar-Salem.

“We have a certain dynamic with us because we’ve been playing a lot together,” senior Madi Gamett said.

And it’s that dynamic and experience that keeps the Pirates chasing the blue trophy.

“It’s a different experience here at state,” she said. “We all know that and it’s super fun to be here.”