Orem • It wasn't Skyline's finest stretch.

Down by as many as 11 points, the Eagles just about gave away the second set to Bountiful, a No. 2 seed out of Region 6. After the Braves tied up the match at a set apiece, Skyline started figuring itself out.

"A lot of it was our errors, but Bountiful was playing a great game," senior hitter Nicol Powell said. "We knew it would be close, and we had to pull together."

The Eagles took down Bountiful 3-1 (25-21, 16-25, 25-22, 25-20) by winning the next two sets and advanced to Saturday's semifinals, furthering their quest to win the program's first volleyball title since 2002.

It helped that Skyline has what might be the biggest front line in the state. Miquelle Askew, Alysse Stephenson and Anisa Mughal made it difficult for the Braves to get anything done up front, while Powell and others pounded away from the sides.

But for coach Jamie Hutchins, the biggest difference was the Eagles started to clean up their own messes.

"When the teams you play are this good, the most important thing is to control your side," Hutchins said. "The team that gets good serves in, gets good digs and passes will be OK."

After dropping the first set 21-25, Bountiful appeared to be that team. The Braves rallied behind Tipper Nelson's serves, which seemed to be dropping in the right spots during the second set. Madi Packard, a fierce outside hitter, also was causing problems for Skyline when she got open shots.

But in the end, the Eagles found some consistency, and though Bountiful tied up the score several times in the final sets, Skyline always seemed to be a step ahead and pull away again.

The Braves made it interesting late, successfully defending three match points. But Powell finally shelved pesky Bountiful with a match-ending kill.

"It felt really good," Powell said. "We know we've got room for improvement, and this game wasn't our best. But when we play our game, we can be a really good team."

Other 4A results

Timpview 3, Box Elder 1 (22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-23) • The Thunderbirds dropped the initial set, but caught on later in the match. Defensively, Timpview outmatched the bigger Bees front line.

Jesse Jorgenson led with 12 kills and 20 assists as the T-birds marched to the semifinals in their first playoff appearance in a decade.

Salem Hills 3, Sky View 2 (11-25, 24-26, 25-13, 25-23, 15-13) • Though they were down two sets and on the ropes, the Skyhawks charged back to win three sets in a row to down Region 2 power Sky View.

It was the first 0-2 comeback for Salem Hills, which got power performances from Macky Treanor with 28 kills and freshman Ellie Cottam with 26 digs.

Olympus 3, Woods Cross 2 (25-21, 12-25, 19-25, 26-24, 15-10) • The Titans managed to finish off former region rival Woods Cross in the Wildcats' second five-set match of the day. Despite losing the second and third sets convincingly, Olympus summoned the strength to win the final two. —

Saturday's schedule

P At UCCU Center, UVU

Semifinals

• Skyline vs. Timpview, 10:30 a.m.

• Olympus vs. Sal. Hills, 12:30 p.m.

Championship

• Semifinal winners, 5:30 p.m.

At tribpreps.com

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