| Bringing the trophy home. |
The 2004 version of the Carbon High volleyball team did something no team in the 30 year history of volleyball at the school has done before.
They won a state championship.
And when a team does that they usually (1) place a number of people on all-state teams, and (2) usually end up with one of the players being named the most valuable player in the state.
Carbon was no exception as Morgan Warburton won both the state tournament MVP and the MVP for the year in the 3A classification.
Warburton could probably play volleyball at the collegiate level just about anywhere she wanted with those credentials, but instead she has already decided to play basketball, her favorite sport at her favorite school, the University of Utah next season.
With her 245 kills, 88 solo blocks, 368 block assists and 33 digs this season she was only outshined by one player in the statistic department, the 5A MVP Airial Salvo of Viewmont.
She joins Salvo, Ashley Hamilton of Lone Peak, Cheyna Shumway of San Juan and Halie Sawyer of Panguitch as MVP’s in their respective classifications this year.
But it takes more than one player to win in a team sport like volleyball, and Warburton knows that well.
Also named to the first team was Monica Shorts, a steading force on the team all year who sets helped the Lady Dinos to their championship. She put out 631 assists this year with 44 aces and 258 points.
Next came the second team all-state and Junior Jamie King filled that bag in the 3A . King was key on blocks this year and will return for one more year to help Coach Bruce Bean and staff head into another good year.
Finally, but certainly not last is Courtney Young. Young, a senior, was instrumental in wins all year and in the championship game she did everything that was asked of her and more. For this she was named third team all-state.
It was a brilliant year, and proof that the Carbon volleyball program has finally run the whole cycle from being one of the doormats of Region 8 years ago to the top of the heap.