| Lady Spartans try for a kill. |
Lady Spartans struggle in all region games
After having swept the previous weeks’ games, the Emery High Lady Spartans thought they were ready for the opening of region volleyball. Unfortunately, that is the same thought that the teams from North Sanpete and Juan Diego were also thinking. Emery lost both matches to their region foes.
The final score Tuesday night against the Lady Hawks was 25-15, 25-17 and 25-17. None of these games were close as the Spartans struggled all night with consistency. With Region 8 being a very competitive and balanced region for volleyball, it will be tough now for Spartans with the two home losses to remain in contention for playoff games.
On Thursday night against Juan Diego, the Spartans again fell in three straight games. The scores were 25-13, 25-20 and 25-20.
In the games against Juan Diego, Emery kept it close in the early part of each game. In game one and two, the score was tied at 6-6. In game three, the score was tied at 5-5. In game one, the score was again tied at 10-10, in game two Emery led 9-8 and in game three it was 9-11. Emery was consistent in their attack to this point.
Each game quickly deteriorated from this point. In game one, the score went from 10-10 to 11-24. In game two, the score went from 9-8 to 9-13 and in game three it went to 13-17.
In the three games with North Sanpete, the score early in each game was 8-10, 8-11 and 10-7. There appears to be a pattern here.
Starters for Emery are seniors Jalee Jensen, Meagan Pearson, Billie Jean Reed, Chelsea Skinner and Madison Jensen. Also rotating in are juniors Frankie Komar, Sierra Bridgewater and Jodi Robertson. Sophomore Abbey Kay plays middle blocker for Emery.
Coach Melissa Esplin was looking for consistency from her team last week as they traveled to Delta on Tuesday and then came home for a match with Carbon. She did not find it. Both Delta and Carbon defeated the Spartans in three straight games.
Delta won 25-14, 25-17 and 25-21, as the Rabbits never really let Emery into the match. The games against Carbon went even worse. Carbon won the opener 25-17 but then swept the next two quickly at 25-9 and 25-5. With Emery having played everybody at home except the Rabbits, it now does not look great for the Spartans advancing to the state tournament.
Emery plays a single game this week at North Sanpete.