CEDAR CITY, Utah (June 20, 2026) — Over 300 athletes converged across five local venues on June 19-20 as the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games hosted its Women's Volleyball Tournament. The two-day event brought 39 teams to courts at Cedar High School, Cedar Middle School, Canyon View High School, Canyon View Middle School and the Southern Utah University Physical Education Building, showcasing a deep spectrum of regional talent.

The tournament featured 26 squads battling in the Rec division and 13 teams competing in the high-octane Competitive/Open division.

"What's really cool about it is dividing it up," said Women's Volleyball Sport Coordinator Mandie Matheson. "The Competitive/Open division includes some collegiate players, so the level of play is extremely high and competitive. Whereas in the Rec division, there are a lot of great players, but of all ages. We have players that are still in high school and players that are retired."

For three athletes on the Open/Competitive division squad Easy Aces, the tournament was less of a casual weekend hobby and more of a family reunion. Cousins Kallie Sue Yardley, Dalayni Brindley and Kinzlee Brindley have spent nearly a decade competing on the Cedar City courts together, tracing their roots back to the Youth Volleyball event.

"We started out in middle school," Yardley said. "It was where we learned the basics of volleyball and learned to come together as a team."

Now playing in the Women's Volleyball event, the trio uses the Summer Games to sharpen skills that have carried them into the collegiate ranks. Dalayni Brindley recently wrapped up her first year at the College of Southern Idaho, while Kinzlee Brindley is gearing up for her freshman season at Colorado Northwestern Community College. The cousins spent the weekend matching up against programs from across the western United States and beyond.

The Easy Aces took the court on day one donning matching Father's Day-themed shirts featuring Gru from Despicable Me that read "World's Best Villain Dad."

"It is also Father's Day weekend, and we are wanting to celebrate our dads because they helped us start volleyball," Yardley said. "It's nice playing with family because we know that we can trust each other to make smart plays on the court. Volleyball is a culture, and the girls that you grow with, it's literally a sisterhood."

While the Easy Aces relied on lifelong chemistry, another team in the Rec division found success through spontaneous connections. The Salty Six Pack roster featured an array of athletes from various states who had never shared a court until the tournament began.

"It's like a mix-match," said Salty Six Pack player Kristina Peterson, who previously spent many years immersed in the robust adult volleyball circuits of Minnesota. She added, "I have a friend that has a daughter that has a friend that knows this player. I grabbed a friend from Minnesota that's here. We've never met or played together as a team until yesterday."

Teammate Makenzie Moea'i, an American Fork native, brought elite experience to the patchwork roster. Moea'i's competitive path included collegiate stints at UNLV and Utah State University, followed by a professional contract in Sweden. Despite an injury cutting her overseas career short, the local tournament offers an ideal avenue to stay connected to the sport.

"This event keeps growing the game," Moea'i said. "And that's what we need. We need people to see how fun this sport is, how competitive this sport is, and it just keeps growing. It's awesome that the USG put this on."

When the final whistles blew after two days of intense rally scoring, two programs stood alone atop their respective podiums.

In the 26-team Rec division, Block Party outlasted the massive field to secure the gold medal. Meanwhile, the Valley Vikings put together a dominant run through the bracket to claim the championship title in the Competitive/Open division.

Up next

The volleyball action at the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games transitions from the hardwood to the elements later this month. The Outdoor Volleyball event is scheduled to take over Cedar City on June 27. Teams and individuals interested in registering for the Games can sign up at utahsummergames.org.

Photos by Shania Hopkins: