The Emery Spartans knew before the season ever started that the tough part of the season would be region play and sure enough region play started last week and that is pretty much the way that it was.
Emery traveled last week on Tuesday to Richfield to play the number two ranked and the defending state champion Wildcats. Richfield showed that they are still a dominant team with a 26-24, 25-16, 25-12 sweep of the Spartans.
Richfield has a season record of 10-4 and is clearly a favorite to challenge for the 2-A title again this season. Enterprise is the number one ranked team in 2-A and has defeated the Wildcats 3-2 earlier this year after the Wildcats led 2-1.
Emery showed in the first game that they could play with Richfield but the Spartans faded quickly in the second and third game of the match, as nothing seemed to go the Spartans way.
In the first game, Emery led 8-6 and then 11-8 before the Wildcats scored seven straight points to lead 15-11. Emery battled back to tie the game at 24-24 but Richfield then quickly ended the game and then the match.
In games two and three, the Spartans were able to only once string three straight points together and both times it was with senior Hailee Rogers serving.
In game two, the score was tied at 10-10 before Richfield ran away with it. In game three, Emery found themselves behind early at 4-1, at 9-3 and at 12-7 before Richfield ended it.
On Thursday night, Emery came home to host the fourth ranked Grand Red Devils team. On this night, Emery came out on fire and defeated Grand 3-1.
Emery opened the night with a great performance in the first game of the match and the opener 25-18. Grand won game two 25-22 before Emery would sweep games three and four. The scores were 25-21 and 25-23.
In game one, the score was tied at 7-7 when the Spartans would slowly start to pull away. With Emery leading 9-8, Jessica Guymon would get a pair of serves in and the Spartans extended their lead to 12-8. Ashlynn Allred then got three serves in to extend the lead to 16-9. Shelby Allred then also had three serves in and Emery led 22-14 before wining.
In game two, the score was tied at 10-10, at 15-15, at 20-20. Grand went up 23-20 but Emery got to 23-22 before Grand put the game away.
In game three, Emery was behind early at 9-6 and at 15-10 and then tied the score at 15-15. The score was tied at 20-20 when the Spartans scored four points to lead 24-20 and then won at 25-21.
In game four, Emery got out to the lead at 16-10 and 19-13. After Grand won the point at 19-14, Grand would go on a run of six more points to take the lead. Emery fans suddenly were a little nervous. But fortunately, the Spartans righted the ship and scored the points they needed to win the game and the match.
This week, Emery will have only a single match, a game at number five ranked South Sevier on Tuesday night.
Volleyball wins one drops one
"Ashlynn Allred hits the ball over the net from the back row."