The bets are on a Utah County team to win the Class 5A state volleyball tournament.

Which one? That's where things start to get fuzzy.

Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove have combined to win the past four 5A titles, and Lehi has jumped in the conversation by beating them both in the regular season. Now the three Region 4 teams are done beating up each other — all went 8-2 in region — and are casting their eyes to the rest of the state.

And sure, maybe a few rematches thrown in.

"Our region isn't like it used to be," Pleasant Grove coach Allyce Jones says. "You don't play one game then get a break. Every week, you're gonna be playing a big game. I think it's made the teams in our region a lot tougher, to be honest."

When the UHSAA realigned regions and classifications this year, volleyball coaches immediately saw the logjam in Region 4. The Vikings and the Knights are perennial rivals who always seem to meet in the title game, and Lehi and Bingham are often considered among the state's elite.

It's been the dogfight many thought it would be. The top three squads have each taken advantage of the others by winning home contests. Every team seems to have talent — a lot of the question lies in who might pick up the mental edge in this weekend's tournament at Utah Valley University.

"It's really tough tactically, because you have to find the weaknesses of your opponent while you're playing the game," coach Jamie Ingersoll says. "And if they're playing well and taking away what you can do, it's tough to make adjustments. Anyone can play well on any given day."

Lone Peak is the defending champ and has the most momentum after beating Pleasant Grove and Lehi back-to-back to finish the season. But the Knights also got the raw deal on a coin flip, taking the No. 3 seed despite tying for first. Heavy hitters Brynne Sorrell and transfer Kenzie Willey will try to guide their team out of the fray to protect their title.

But expect the Vikings and the Pioneers to play their best as well. McKell Staheli is the returning vet for Pleasant Grove, and she's been a big part of creating a more balanced offense this year. Lehi clinched the No. 1 seed out of Region 4, and 6-foot-4 Bree Bailey will be tough for opponents to deal with in the middle.

Then there are teams such as Davis, a title contender in its own right, that has hopes of being on top when the dust settles. Coach Lori Salvo says Region 1 was no cakewalk either, and her team doesn't mind being a little under the radar leading into postseason.

"As usual, I think we haven't gotten a ton of credit, but we'll definitely play our hardest," Salvo says. "We're mentally prepared. Everyone's just waiting to show what they can do."

kgoon@sltrib.com

Twitter: @kylegoon —

Girls' volleyball state tournament

Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5 at Utah Valley University

Friday's games

5A

Match 1 • Pleasant Grove vs. Kearns, 3:30 p.m.

Match 2 • Davis vs. Jordan, 3:30 p.m.

Match 3 • Brighton vs. Northridge, 3:30 p.m.

Match 4 • Hunter vs. Lone Peak, 3:30 p.m.

Match 5 • Fremont vs. West Jordan, 5 p.m.

Match 6 • Lehi vs. Viewmont, 5 p.m.

Match 7 • Taylorsville vs. Bingham, 5 p.m.

Match 8 • Alta vs. Layton, 5 p.m.

Match 9 • Winner match 1 vs. winner match 2, 6:30 p.m.

Match 10 • Winner match 3 vs. winner match 4, 6:30 p.m.

Match 11 • Winner match 5 vs. winner match 6, 8 p.m.

Match 12 • Winner match 7 vs. winner match 8, 8 p.m.

Match 13 • Loser match 1 vs. loser match 2, 6:30 p.m.

Match 14 • Loser match 3 vs. loser match 4, 6:30 p.m.

Match 15 • Loser match 5 vs. loser match 6, 8 p.m.

Match 16 • Loser match 7 vs. loser match 8, 8 p.m.

4A

Match 1 • Timpview vs. Cyprus, 9 a.m.

Match 2 • Box Elder vs. Westlake, 9 a.m.

Match 3 • Skyline vs. Mountain Crest, 9 a.m.

Match 4 • Bountiful vs. Maple Mountain, 9 a.m.

Match 5 • Sky View vs. Murray, 10:30 a.m.

Match 6 • Salem Hills vs Timpanogos or East*, 10:30 a.m.

Match 7 • Woods Cross vs. Orem, 10:30 a.m.

Match 8 • Olympus vs. Bonneville, 10:30 a.m.

Match 9 • Winner match 1 vs. winner match 2, noon

Match 10 • Winner match 3 vs. winner match 4, noon

Match 11 • Winner match 5 vs. winner match 6, 1:30 p.m.

Match 12 • Winner match 7 vs. winner match 8, 1:30 p.m.

Match 13 • Loser match 1 vs. loser match 2, noon

Match 14 • Loser match 3 vs. loser match 4, noon

Match 15 • Loser match 5 vs. loser match 6, 1:30 p.m.

Match 16 • Loser match 7 vs. loser match 8, 1:30 p.m.

* Timpanogos will play at East on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The winner will play Salem Hills in the tournament; the other team's season is over.