The Emery High Lady Spartan volleyball team opened their 2010 season with a home match against the 4-A Payson Lions and defeated the Lions 3-2. After losing the first game 25-18 and the second game narrowly at 25-23, the Spartans won the last three games to claim the victory. Those scores were 25-16, 25-20 and 15-11.
In the first game, Emery and Payson were tied at 4-4 when the Lions scored six straight points. Emery could never overcome that deficit the rest of the game and lost that game by seven points.
In game two, Emery trailed early at 7-3 and 4-10 before closing the gap to 23-21 and 24-23. Payson scored the last point to claim the second game but Emery had found energy that was a preview of what was to come.
Payson jumped out to an 8-6 lead in game three but Emery took over from there. Emery scored four straight points with Brittany Fauver serving to take their first lead at 10-8. Emery then scored four straight again with JoLynn Jennings serving to lead 14-9. With Blayr Jeffs serving, Emery did it one more time to lead 18-10 and the Spartans cruised from there to their first win of a game for the season.
In game four, Emery scored off Payson’s first serve and with Brooke Jensen serving, Emery scored four straight to lead 5-0. Emery increased the lead to 10-3 and 17-7. Jeffs was serving when Emery increased their lead from 12-7 to the 10-point margin. Payson fought back but the Spartans never let them closer than the final margin.
With the score tied at two games each, game five was set. The two teams were tied at 4-4 when Emery grabbed the lead at 9-5. Payson narrowed the deficit to 11-9 but could not get any closer and Emery held on to claim the win.
Emery starts Brooke Jensen, Courtney Tuttle and Adrie Huntington, the three seniors on this season’s team. Also starting is junior Brittany Fauver with junior JoLynn Jennings subbing in for Huntington on the back row. Sophomores Shandee Jewkes and Hailee Rogers split time at one position and sophomore Blayr Jeffs is the other starter.
This season’s team has three seniors, four juniors, 12 sophomores and three freshmen on it. The Emery coaching staff is looking for this combination of players to play well throughout the season.
Emery plays Carbon this Tuesday night in Carbon as the season continues.
Emery volleyball opens season with win against Payson
"Adrie Huntington blocks the ball with Blayr Jeffs."