Lady Spartan volleyball off to good start

By GARY ARRINGTON Sports writer

After opening the season playing in a tournament in St. George, the Emery High volleyball team played a pair of non-region games last week against 3-A teams from Utah County. Emery traveled to Payson on Thursday night and won the match in three straight games and on Friday night, Emery hosted Spanish Fork and lost in three straight games.
Emery, new to 2-A ball this season, played the two Utah County teams that are both new to 3-A ball after having been 4-A teams the past 20 years or so.
Spanish Fork defeated Emery 25-21, 25-13 and 25-20. Emery defeated Payson 25-13, 25-17 and 25-21.
The Spartan lineup consists of three seniors, four juniors, two sophomores and one freshman that see playing time. Seniors Brittany Fauver, Catherine Dyer and Laurel Roundy start for the Spartans.
Juniors Hailee Rogers and Jessica Guymon also start for the Spartans. Juniors Shelby Allred and Jentrie Allred have split time starting in the back row this season.
Also substituting in this season are sophomores Hannah Dyer and Hailey Procarione and freshman Ashton Bell.
Emery will continue preseason play this week with two home matches. On Tuesday, Emery will host Canyon View and on Thursday, Emery will host Carbon.
While it is hard to get a read sometimes on a team early in the season, it appears that this Emery team is playing better as a team and should be playing solid volleyball by the time region play begins.
In the first game against Payson, Emery led 5-3 when Laurel Roundy began serving. Emery led 12-3 when she finished as the Spartans opened up the big lead and never allowed Payson to climb back in. Brittany Fauver served four straight points late in this game.
In game two, with the scored tied 16-16, Jentrie Allred served seven straight points and Emery won going away. In game three, Payson led 8-4 early on before Emery grabbed the lead at 14-12. Shelby Allred and Fauver each served four straight points in consecutive series and Emery grabbed the lead that they would never let go.
Against Spanish Fork, Emery trailed 14-4 in the first game, was tied 7-7 in the second game and was tied 14-14 in the third game before losing each game. Spanish Fork is a good volleyball team.