| Emery Spartan player blocks the ball with backup Sierra Bridgewater. |
The 2006 volleyball season at Emery High School has been frustrating for the players, the coaches and the fans. The team is competitive through the first part of the game only to disappear late in a game and now find themselves 0-4 in region play as the first half comes to an end.
The Spartans lost to North Sanpete 25-16, 25-18 and 25-22. In those three games the score was 15-18, 13-14 and 22-22 before Emery lost.
Emery then hosted Juan Diego and lost 25-13, 25-22, 23-25 and 25-23. In those four games, Emery trailed 11-13, was tied at 21 each and in the final game was tied at 22 apiece. In the game they won, Jalee Jensen was serving as the Spartans went from 13 points to 22 points and stuck out a win.
At Delta, Emery lost 19-25, 20-25 and 18-25. Again they were in each of those games before Delta pulled away at the end. Emery was tied with the Rabbits at 17 each in game one, led 14-13 in game two and trailed 16-19 in game three.
At Carbon, Emery lost 25-15, 25-22 and 25-20. In game one, Emery went from 12-12 to 14-24. In game two, Emery went from 13-13 to 14-21 and in the final game Emery led 19-17 before Carbon scored six straight points.
Talking with Coach Allred about his team, “We are struggling, we play really good, we explode and play really well and then we lay back and let teams back in. We have good girls and really good talent but they need to have more internal drive to be better.”
Emery is now playing starting three sophomores in Shianne Allred, Sierra Bridgewater and Jody Robertson. Sophomore Frankie Komar rotates into the mix and freshman Abby Kay sees playing time. Senior Kassie Allred and juniors Jalee Jensen and Madison Jensen also start for the Spartans. Madison and Shianne have been particularly effective at the net and Frankie sets the ball really well.
Coach Allred continued, “We struggle with height and blocking but our overall quickness and talent should overcome our weaknesses. When they work together and trust each other is when we shine. We have got to continually work hard and push ourselves to be better.”
Emery finishes out the season with four more matches. They travel to North Sanpete and Juan Diego and finish at home Oct. 17 and 19 against Delta and Carbon.