| Senior players and parents at the last home game, Adrian McNee, Jerica Jensen, Misty Nielson, Mandi Weihing and Krista Ungerman. |
Before last Thursday’s final season volleyball game, Head Coach Ferd Allred commented about his team, “Our team has been competitive against the teams we have played this year. We should do alright today if the girls come out to play.” The Emery Spartans then defeated the North Sanpete Hawks, the #3 team in the state and the defending state champs in 4 games.
The Spartans lost the first game 17-25 and were down in the second game before they took their first lead at 9-8. They outscored the Hawks 16-11 the rest of the way to win their first game against a quality team this season after coming close so many times. They then won 25-21 as they proved they could hold the lead down the stretch. They won game four 25-23 after they trailed 19-21 and 22-23, proving that they can come back from a deficit.
The girls played well as a unit, all doing their job. Natalee Hanson, Ashley Hansen, Misty Nielson, Rachel Rasmussen, and Shaylie Huntington all did well at the net. Tahna Merrill stood out as she had her best game this year.
| EHS Volleyball Roster-2004
|
After the game, an elated Coach Allred had this to say, “I knew the games would be close today if the girls played and boy, they played.”
It would not be fair to not mention the others who also did their jobs with serves and digs and volleys and sets. Mandi Weihing, Krista Ungerman, Jerica Jensen, Adrian McNee and Camille Fehlberg were all great and aided in the win.
Earlier in the week, the Spartans had played a non-region game against Manti and defeated the Templars 25-11, 25-9 and 25-15.
Before the game, Coach Allred also had this to say when asked about his younger players, “We have nine sophomores and three freshmen. The sophomore team has been playing really well and I think this should bode well for the future.”
The Spartans now are ready for the State Tournament, which starts Oct. 29 at UVSC in Orem. The first game is at 11 a.m. in this double elimination tourney. Allred finished with this, “We need senior leadership like today. They have the talent, they know what to do. If they are there mentally, we will be fine.”
Good luck Lady Spartans.