Kearns • The Kearns High volleyball team had hopes of challenging Taylorsville for the region title this season, but after losing seven of their last nine matches, the third-place Cougars now have to think about keeping their season alive.

Squaring off against second seed Pleasant Grove (23-5) in the first round of the 5A state volleyball tournament at Utah Valley University is the first challenge for a team that has fallen and can't seem to get up.

"It's disappointing, because we were destined for great things," said team captain Tala Faumui. "We've had our ups and downs [this season], but our team just tends to stay down for quite some time and it's hard for us to get back up."

Kearns players know they have a chance to erase some regular-season disappointments with a strong finish at the Nov. 4-5 tournament. Middle blocker Micaelee Orton says the team just has to believe in each other.

"We know we can do it, it's just having confidence. That's been a big struggle this year, just finding that confidence in ourselves," said Orton after Thursday's 3-1 loss to Hunter.

Coach Ryan Knowlton said the team has the firepower to win a tournament game—just as it did last year— but it has to improve its passing game. The team lost one of its best setters earlier this season when libero Margret Falk went down with an injury. Since then, other players haven't been able to step up.

"That's on our coaching staff," Knowlton said. "We have to prepare all the players to play for wherever we need them." But despite the team's recent slide, Knowlton believes this group will be ready to play. The players are also optimistic, as they are embracing the role of underdog.

"You can't judge a team by their name," Faumui said of facing the Vikings. "Every team has their off game and we might just be lucky enough to get their off game."

Still, the Cougars are back in the playoffs for the second year in row and that's a big accomplishment for a program that's been off the radar for most of the past decade.

"We knew we could do it," Orton said. "We were hoping for a better spot, but we knew we were going to go [to the playoffs], now we just have to take care of those little things that have been killing us." —

Cougars in the playoffs

P Kearns will face No. 2 seed Pleasant Grove in the first round of the 5A state volleyball tournament on Friday. The Vikings (23-5) have impressive wins over Lone Peak, Lehi, Taylorsville and Snow Canyon this season.

Kearns (11-15) slumped toward the end of the regular season, losing seven of its last nine matches to finish in third place in Region 2. Kearns is back in the state tournament for the second year in a row.