Miners girls volleyball defeated Hillcrest in senior Tuesday night

The Miners girls volleyball team had a memorable final night on Tuesday, defeating Hillcrest by three sets to zero.

Park City’s win also secured them the regional title, which was the deciding factor between the two teams.

The Miners celebrated 10 seniors in a pregame ceremony with parents, siblings and friends. The lively crowd seemed to stay throughout the game, filling the Park City gymnasium on both sides of the field. The stakes were clearly at their highest.

After a close 25:23 first set, the Miners went through sets two and three and won them by a total of 21 points. It was the team’s second 3-0 win over Hillcrest this year, having also been defeated on the road on September 26th.

With the regional title on the line, Park City could play with some freedom knowing they had already secured a playoff bye. The brackets were announced Wednesday morning and the team will play the winner of West Field and Snow Canyon next Friday at Utah Valley University in Orem. The second round will be played next Friday and Saturday at UVU.

“You look at every year as a good opportunity to network and progress,” head coach Matt Carlson said. “I think that’s been the focus of Park City over the last decade. … Whatever adversity happens – whether it’s disagreements with classmates, difficult circumstances at home or whatever the obstacle may be, we still play Park City volleyball.”

Carlson and his team have struggled with one of their coaches, Kai Nielson, being placed on leave earlier this season for alleged sexual assault comments. The news caused a stir locally, statewide and nationally in September. The school district has not yet made a decision about Nielson’s future at the school, and a senior on the team shared that the scandal has left their locker room somewhat divided, with some hoping for Nielson’s return and others not.

Carlson was proud to see his girls come together throughout the season to maximize their potential. The head coach maintained a relaxed and positive attitude throughout the competition, holding his young daughter in his arms for most of the game. He said she helps him keep his cool and remember that at the end of the day, it’s just a game.

Carlson was proud of how the team handled Tuesday’s event, with celebrations and the title on the line. He said part of their success was due to how much they really cared about each other. Carlson has been with Park City for nine years and also works with many players through his club program.

“It’s great to be able to graduate with these seniors,” Carlson added. “The growth of them as people is the most rewarding part of it all. Seeing how they respond to adversity, how they deal with setbacks, how they support and love each other and connect, it’s just been an incredible season. What a joy for me as a coach.”

Carlson and the team are confident that if they put in their best effort, they can win the state championship. He said they have already beaten the best the state has to offer, defeating top-seeded Orem three sets to two at home on Sept. 12. Park City has yet to face second-place Green Canyon this season.

Senior Henley Madsen said she was happy with her performance on Tuesday and the win. She felt like this senior course “ended with a bang.” Headmaster Roger Arbabi presented the team with the regional championship trophy in the happy aftermath of the victory.

The team celebrated with the trophy alongside their families and friends, who took numerous photos to commemorate the occasion.

Madsen said she will most fondly remember the time spent with her teammates and friends, not only playing, but also cheering on the bench and celebrating the victories on the bus rides. She said this year’s team wants to win the state title, showing the rest of the state that it is a better program than its 2023 quarterfinal loss and that it is more than capable of overcoming everything it has been through off the field.

“We are all very confident,” Madsen said. “We have been through hardships, but we stick together through thick and thin and will emerge victorious.”