Led by head coach Kris Bell, the Emery Lady Spartans finished the 2019 season with an overall record of 8-23, including a 1-2 mark at the 3A State Championship Tournament this past October.

Despite a 3-0 start to the season, the Lady Spartans encountered several ups and downs throughout the campaign. Placed in one of the state’s toughest regions, Emery ended the division portion of the schedule 0-10.

In the first year of the RPI format, the Lady Spartans ended the regular season ranked No. 13 in the state. Matched up with the eventual state champions, Emery suffered a loss in straight sets.

Emery answered back by beating No. 12 Delta in four sets. The season came to an end the following day with a loss in five sets to the South Sevier Rams.

Below is a complete recap of each game during the 2019 season:

August 23- Manti- Win 3-0:

The Emery Spartan volleyball team opened the 2019 campaign on the road in Manti, coming away with a hard earned victory.

Coming off a 13-12 season (5-5 in region) Coach Kris Bell had the lady Spartans ready. Winning the first set 29-27, Emery would go on to win the second set 25-23 and then had a little breathing room in the final set coming out with the victory 25-20.

Emery will play in an all new region this year with teams from Carbon, San Juan, Richfield, South Sevier and Grand. Mostly familiar faces, the majority of the teams were in Region 15 with them last year.

August 27- Altamont- Win 3-0:

The Emery ladies volleyball team took to the court for the first time in almost a week and the result was the same, a straight set victory over Altamont.

Last week the Lady Spartans were part of a highly contested match against the Manti Templars coming out victorious with a straight set victory.

This time, at the Spartan Center they captured another straight set win 25-13, 25-15 and 25-19 to put their season record at 2-0.

They will now head to St. George to take place in the Dixie Fly High Volleyball tournament.

The Lady Spartans will finish their non-region schedule as they travel to Beaver. They will begin region play two days, as they travel to Moab to take on the Grand Red Devils. Their first home region match will be against the Carbon Dinos.

August 30- Pineview- Win 2-0, Snow Canyon- Loss 2-0, Providence Hall- Win 2-1:

Dixie Fly High Tournament

The Emery Lady Spartans volleyball team were on the road for the Dixie Fly High tournament in St. George. They played five matches in two days, going 2-3.

The Spartans started with a straight set victory against Pine View from St George 25-14, 25-21. Emery would next face Snow Canyon, a 4A team also from St. George. The Lady Spartans put out an outstanding effort but would come out on the losing end 22-25, 18-25.

Up next was the Providence Hall Patriots from Herriman. The Patriots would take them to three sets but Emery came out on top of the match 25-21, 23-25 and 15-7 in the final set earning the 2-1 win.

August 31- Carbon- Loss 2-0, Maple Moutain- Loss 2-1, Hurricane- Loss 2-0:

Dixie Fly High Tournament

First up on day two for Emery was a Region 12 match-up with the Carbon Dinos. The Spartans would drop straight sets to Carbon 19-25 and 18-25.

Up next was a contest against Maple Mountain, a 5A school from Spanish Fork in which they would fall 2-1.

In their final match of the weekend The Lady Spartans would go up against the Hurricane Tigers, yet another 4A team from southern Utah. Emery would again drop straight sets 19-25, 14-25 to finish the tournament 2-3.

September 3 – Beaver- Win 3-0:

Coming off a weekend tournament in St. George, the Lady Spartans returned to the volleyball court against Beaver winning in straight sets 3-0.

The Spartans now sit at 5-4 overall as they will prepare for the region portion of their schedule. With matches in the coming weeks against Carbon, Richfield and San Juan, Emery will need to hit the ground running to be ready for the reshuffled Region 12 line-up this season.

It all starts on September 5th as they will travel to Grand who are sitting at 6-3 overall. They travel to San Juan and then will have their region home opener on Sept. 12 against Carbon.

September 5- Grand- Loss 3-1:

The Emery Spartan Volleyball team played a road contest in Moab, coming home with a 3-1 loss against the Grand Red Devils (7-3 overall and 1-0 in region) in four sets.

The Spartans were within striking distance in every set going 23-25, 21-25, 25-23 and 25-27 in the final set losing the match.

This marks their fourth loss in the last five matches, which includes the Dixie Fly High Tournament that took place last weekend in St. George.

The Spartans are now in the bulk of their region schedule with nine of their next ten games in conference. With tough matches still on the horizon with Richfield and Carbon, they will have their hands full in a difficult Region 12 this year.

September 10- San Juan- Loss 3-0:

The Spartan volleyball squad traveled to Blanding to face the San Juan Broncos. Emery would come home on the losing end 3-0.

The Spartans have had an up and down 2019 campaign so far. Starting out the season 3-0 they have struggled lately going 1-4 in their last five games, they now sit at 5-6 and 0-2 in region. Emery is a young team with just four seniors this year, and the underclassmen will need to step up this season.

Emery will take to the floor next as they will face the Carbon Dinos (7-3 overall and 0-1 in region), Carbon is coming off a five set loss to South Sevier and will be looking to get back to their winning ways.

September 12- Carbon- Loss 3-1:

At the Spartan Center the Emery Spartan volleyball team welcomed the Carbon Dinos. After four hard fought sets the Dinos headed back to Price with a 3-1 victory.

The first set gave us an idea of what to expect the rest of the way. It was back and forth for the whole match as Carbon won the first set 25-21.

The second set had Emery on the offensive outscoring the Dinos 25-17. The final two sets would go to the Dinos however, 25-23, 25-21.

The Spartans sit at 5-7 overall and 0-3 in region, they have lost four of their last five matches. Next week the initial RPI results will be available on the 19 and it will give Emery an idea of where they stack up with the rest of the 3A field.

September 17- Richfield- Loss 3-2:

The Emery Spartan volleyball team traveled to Richfield to take on the Wildcats. After a hard fought match, the Spartans fell in five sets 3-2.

Emery has dropped their first four region matches this season bringing their overall record to 5-8. The initial RPI rankings for volleyball will be available on Thursday September 19 , and those will give us a better idea of the Spartans standings statewide.

The Wildcats (14-2 overall and 3-1 in region) won the first two sets 25-16 and 25-9. Then it was Emery’s turn winning the next two 25-23 and 26-24, Richfield would come back and win the final set 15-11. It was a battle as both teams fought back and forth but in the end the Wildcats were just too much for the Spartans.

Up next for Emery is a trip to Monroe to take on the South Sevier Rams (6-8, 1-3). With only seven matches left in the season, there is still plenty of time for Emery to make some noise in region 12.

September 19- South Sevier- Loss 3-2:

The Emery Lady Spartan volleyball squad had lost four in a row headed into it’s visit to Monroe to take on the South Sevier Rams. And while the first two sets looked promising, the Rams would come back to win 3-2.

The Spartans (5-9 overall and 0-5 in region) have been struggling lately to find wins in conference play. But it’s not from lack of effort. Their last two matches they have taken their opponents to five sets, falling just short in both.

Emery started out the match winning the first two sets by a score of 25-22. South Sevier would then take the last three sets 25-15, 25-14 and 15-13. These two teams will face each other again in the season finale on October 23.

Up next for the Spartans is a home match-up with Grand (10-4, 2-2), Grand is currently ranked #5  in the initial RPI rankings for volleyball, Emery sits at #12.

September 26- Grand- Loss 3-1:

The Lady Spartans hosted the Red Devils from Grand. The team from Moab brought with them their 12-4 overall record and the #5 RPI ranking in 3A, and left with a 3-1 victory.

The Spartans would win the first set 26-24 but then the rest of the matches would go Grand’s way 25-23, 25-18 and 25-14.

Emery (5-10 overall, 0-6 in region and #12 RPI) has struggled lately,  winning just one of their last seven matches. Region 12 is turning out to be one of the toughest for volleyball, with five of the top ten teams in the 3A RPI residing in the Spartans conference. San Juan and Richfield ranked number one and two and Grand, Carbon and South Sevier ranked five, eight and nine respectively.

It doesn’t get easier for Emery they will welcome Millard (11-0-2, 4-0 and #2 RPI in 2A) and then on they will travel to Price to take on Carbon (8-6, 1-4 and #8 RPI), these two teams have met before on September 12 in Castle Dale with Carbon coming away the winner 3-1.

October 1- Millard- Loss 3-2:

The Lady Spartans hosted the Millard Eagles (12-0 overall, 4-0 in region and #2 RPI in 2A) on falling in five sets 3-2.

Emery has lost their last seven matches and with the exception of the match against Millard , they were all versus region competition. They only have four regular games left against conference opponents. They will head to Richfield next weekend for a tournament at the Sevier Valley Center.

Their remaining region meetings with Carbon, San Juan, Richfield and South Sevier will be a measuring stick as to how far they will be able to go when playoff time rolls around on October 26. It won’t be an easy task as all of the teams left on their schedule are rated in the top 10 of the 3A state rankings. Emery (5-11, 0-6 and #12 RPI) could make a move in the final standings by beating anyone of those teams.

First up is a rematch with Carbon (8-7, 1-5 and #8 RPI) in Price. In their first meeting Carbon was victorious 3-1 at the Spartan Center in mid-Spetember.

October 3- Carbon- Loss 3-0:

Emery headed to Price for a match-up with rival Carbon and after dropping their last match against Millard two nights before they were hungry for a win. They would lose another in straight sets this time 25-19, 25-18, 25-21.

This is the third time the two schools have faced each other this season and with the Sevier Valley Tournament and the State Championships coming up it will possibly not be the last time.

Up next for the Spartans they will welcome San Juan to the Spartan Center next week before heading to Richfield for the weekend competition.

October 8- San Juan- Loss 3-1:

The Emery Lady Spartans volleyball squad have struggled finding wins this season. Sitting at 5-13 overall and 0-8 in region they currently hold the #13 RPI spot in the 3A rankings. The final RPI results will be available on October 25 and those rankings will be used as seeding for the 3A State Championship Tournament that begins on Oct. 26.

They welcomed San Juan to the Spartan Center. The San Juan Broncos are siting at 18-2 overall this season and hold the #1 RPI in the 3A State Rankings.

Emery would lose the first two sets by the identical score of 25-21. In the third set the Spartans would come out strong and take the win 25-18. The Broncos would come back in the fourth set 25-15 and win the match 3-1.

Emery will now head to Richfield for a weekend tournament at the Sevier Valley Center on the campus of Snow College. Their first match-up will be with the Carbon Dinos. These two teams have met twice this season, with Carbon winning both meetings.

October 11 & 12- Sevier Valley Center Tournament- Final Record 2-6:

The Lady Spartans were in Richfield over the weekend for a tournament that took place at the Sevier Valley Center on the Snow College Richfield Campus.

After an 0-3 start in which they would lose matches to Carbon, Panguitch and North Summit, they would start Saturday off with a win over North Sevier and Millard. They would then finish out the weekend with loses to Delta, Enterprise and Monticello to end the tournament 2-6.

Emery now sits at 6-19 overall and 0-9 in region play and will have to wait like the rest of the 3A ranks for the final RPI results to come out next Friday October 25. The 3A State Championship Tournament is scheduled to begin on the 26.

Emery still has a pair of games left on the season. First up is a home meeting with the Richfield Wildcats (23-5 and 6-2) on October 16. Earlier in the season when these two teams met in the Wildcats gym, the Spartans fell 3-2.

In their final match of the season the Spartans will welcome the South Sevier Rams to Castle Dale.

October 16- Richfield- Loss 3-2:

The Emery  volleyball squad took on the Richfield Wildcats in the Spartan Center, at the end of the evening the Spartans would drop another region match as we head toward the last week of the regular season.

When the Spartans visited the Wildcats back in September the result was a 3-2 loss for Emery. Fast forward to October 16 and the result would be the same as the Spartans would fall to the identical score.

Emery currently holds a 6-20 overall record and 0-9 in region play. Richfield is sitting at 24-5 overall and 7-2 in region play, they sit in second place behind San Juan.

The Spartans have one match remaining on against the South Sevier Rams in Castle Dale. In September when they traveled to Monroe, Emery was defeated 3-2.

On October 25 the final RPI rankings will be made available. The Spartans will find out their fate as far as the 3A State Championship Tournament is concerned . The tournament is set to begin on October 26.

October 23- South Sevier- Loss 3-0:

The Emery Spartan Volleyball squad has had it share of struggles lately, sitting at 7-21 overall and 0-10 in Region 12 play. They welcomed the South Sevier Rams into the Spartan Center for Senior Night. Emery would take a loss in straight sets to end the regular season.

The Rams would jump out early on the Spartans defeating them 25-12 in the first set. They would take the final two sets 25-17 and 25-19.

This would be the last regular season home game for seniors Autumn Stilson, Hanna Huntington, JoJo Petersen and Brileigh Curtis. The seniors were celebrated during the game.

Now the Spartans will wait until Friday, October 25 to find out who and where they will begin tournament play. That is when the final RPI results will be released by the Utah High School Athletic Association.

October 29 & 30 3A State Championship Tournament:

The Emery Spartan Volleyball team survived the first day of the 3A State Championship Tournament splitting their first two matches with a loss to Union and then a victory over Delta. That was enough to get them to day two where they would face the South Sevier Rams. They would lose the match this morning 3-2 ending the 2019 campaign.

Emery had already faced the Rams twice this season since they also reside in Region 12. The first meeting on September 19th , the Spartans would take to five sets falling in the final one to lose 3-2. The second time they faced each other South Sevier would win in straight sets.

Fast forward to this morning when after the first set we thought it would be more of the same with the Rams taking it 25-9. Emery would then power back and take the second set 25-19 and then after a serious rally they took set number three 27-25. The fourth set was back and forth the whole time but the Spartan rally was stopped short 27-25. Then in a very competitive fifth set the Rams would put Emery away 15-10. South Sevier will now advance to play Judge Memorial to decide 6th place in the 3A Classification.

That will bring an end to the Spartans 2019 season. Led this year by four seniors Autumn Stilson, Hanna Huntington, JoJo Petersen and Brileigh Curtis, there were so many matches that really could have gone either way. Even at the tournament they showed amazing resilience to be able to come back and win sets that they had fallen behind early in.