Continuing our look at the sports season in the local high schools we will now take a look at Green River volleyball.
The Lady Pirates finished the 2019 campaign 10-8 on the year going 5-1 in region play. With big wins over Pinnacle and Whitehorse, both region victories the Pirates would make it to the second day of the state playoffs falling to Whitehorse on the final day.
This years squad consisted of all underclassmen and they will be able to put their experience to work next season.
Below is a recap of the season:
August 23- Wendover- Win 3-1
In the opening match of the season the Green River Pirates would travel to Wendover to face the Wildcats.
In a four set battle the Pirates would come away with the victory 25-14, 25-15, 22-25 and 25-16.
Up next a trip to Manilla to face the Mustangs (1-0).
August 23- Manilla- Loss 3-2
After opening the season with a win against Wendover, the Pirates were on the road again, this time in Manilla. But unlike the previous contest Green River could not find victory.
Green River came out and won the first set 25-25, Manila would win the next two 25-17 and 25-17. The Pirates would take the fourth set 25-21 and the Mustangs took set five 15-11.
The Pirates sit at 1-1 on the season.
August 24- American Prep WV- Win 3-0
As Part of the Manilla Volleyball Jamboree the Pirates would take on American Prep from West Valley. Green River would take this match in straight sets 25-15, 25-7 and 25-7.
This would wrap up their time at the tournament and they would head home with a 1-1 record.
August 29- Escalante- Loss 3-2
August 31- Wendover- Win- 3-0
In the first of two matches with Wendover, the Pirates welcomed them to Green River coming away victorious in straight sets 26-24, 25-7 and 25-22.
These two teams will face off again in five days as the location will change and the Pirates will travel to Wendover.
September 6- Wendover- Win 3-0
In the second half of a back-to-back the Green River Pirates would be in Wendover this time, but the results would be the same.
Green River came out and fished off the Wildcats in straight sets once again 25-18, 25-15 and 25-21.
This game concluded Green River’s non-conference schedule at 4-2. The Region opener will take place on September 12 on the road at Monument Vallley.
September 12- Monument Valley- Loss 3-2
The Green River Pirates Volleyball team began conference play against Monument Valley on the road, they would fall 3-0.
Monument Valley took the victory in straight sets 25-8, 25-23 and 25-20.
September 17- Whitehorse-Win 3-1
The Lady Pirates volleyball team made the trip to Montezuma Creek to take on the Whitehorse Raiders coming away with a 3-1 win. This brings their overall record to 6-2 and 2-0 in the Region 19 standings.
Winning the first two sets 25-10 and 25-20 before dropping the third set 25-21, the Pirates would come back in the fourth set winning 25-23, and closing the Raiders out.
This makes five wins in their last six games for the Pirates who are sitting in first place in the conference standings. With the first RPI rankings coming out September 19, that will give us a glimpse of how the Lady Pirates stack up against other 1A competition.
Up next will be a road contest against Pinnacle (0-7 overall and 0-1 in region) on September 24 in Price.
September 24- Pinnacle- Win 3-1
The Green River Pirates traveled to Price to face the Pinnacle Panthers and while all four sets played were very close the Pirates left town with a 3 sets to 1 win.
The Panthers came out early winning the first set 25-22, but from then on even though the teams were evenly matched Green River would go on to win the final three sets 25-21, 25-23 and 25-21.
These two teams will meet up again in Green River on October 10.
Green River (7-2 overall, 3-0 in region and No. 6 in RPI) will next travel to Tabiona (12-8, 2-1 and No. 12 RPI) for a non-conference game. They will be home for a match against Monument Valley (5-1,1-1 and No. 1 RPI). These two teams met back on September 12 with Green River winning 3-0. First serve is set for 3 p.m..
September 27- Tabiona- Loss 3-0
The Lady Pirates have been on quite a tear lately winning five of their last seven matches in fact, before the two losses this past weekend Green River had not lost a match since August 29. And they only have two region matches left in the season.
In the match against Tabiona (13-8, 2-1 and No. 10 RPI), the Pirates would lose in straight sets 25-11, 25-18 and 25-18. Losing the match 3-0 Green River would attempt to make the final two sets competitive but Tabiona was too much for the Lady Pirates.
September 28- Monument Valley- Loss 3-2
The Green River Pirates traveled to Tabiona and then welcomed Monument Valley, they would lose both matches bringing their record to 7-4 overall, 3-1 in region and the No. 8 RPI in statewide 1A.
In the match against Monument Valley (7-1, 3-1 and No. 1 RPI), Green River would get it to five sets but the Cougars would come back to win 3-2. The Pirates came out in the first set and got the victory 27-25. Monument Valley would take the next two 25-19 and 25-16. Green River would come back in the fourth taking it 25-16, but Monument Valley would take the fifth and final set 15-7.
Green River will now head to Moab (12-4, 4-2 and No. 5 RPI in 3A). They will host Whitehorse (3-5, 0-2 No.13 RPI). The two teams have already met once this season on September 17 when Green River was victorious 3-1.
October 3- Whitehorse- Win 3-2
Coming off a two game losing streak, the Green River Pirates would welcome Whitehorse to town. When the dust settled in this highly competitive match the Pirates would come away with the 3-2 victory.
The first set would go to Green River 26-24, while Whitehorse would come back to take the next two sets 25-15 and 27-25, the Pirates would put together a tremendous run winning the final sets 25-12 and 15-10.
October 7- Milford- Loss 3-0
Coming off a 3-2 victory over Whitehorse the Lady Pirate Volleyball team took to the road to take on the Milford Tigers (9-3 overall, 5-2 in region and No. 7 RPI). And in the only time these two teams would meet this year, Milford came out on top with a win in straight sets.
Green River (8-5, 4-1 and No. 9 RPI) is on a little bit of a roll winning three of their last five, but didn’t have enough to overcome the Tigers 15-25, 17-25, 15-25.
With just two games left on the season against Pinnacle and Escalante, the Pirates could possibly improve their RPI ranking and move up in preparations for the State Tournament coming up on October 26. The final seeding will be available on Oct. 25.
October 10- Pinnacle- Win 3-0
With just over two weeks left until the beginning of the 1A State Championship Tournament, the Green River Pirates and the Pinnacle Panthers volleyball teams faced off for the final time in the regular season. The two teams met back on September 24 in Price where the Pirates came away with the 3-1 victory. This time the venue would change but the final result did not. In Green River on Thursday night the Pirates would come away with the straight set win, 3-0.
The Pirates would strike early and often taking the first two sets by the same score 25-9. The final set they would dominate as well 25-8.
Green River is now sitting at 9-5 overall, 5-1 in region and No. 9 in the RPI. They only have one match remaining on the season verses Escalante (8-5, 4-5 and No. 11 RPI) on October 14 at home. These two teams have met once before this season on August 29 where the Pirates were defeated 3-2.
October 14- Escalante- Loss 3-2
November 1- Water Canyon- Loss 3-2
The Lady Pirates from Green River traveled to Orem over the weekend to participate in the 1A State Championship Tournament. Taking place on November 1 and 2 on the campus of Utah Valley University.
In the first match the Lady Pirates would face the Water Canyon Wildcats from Hilldale. Water Canyon (13-9 overall and 4-5 in region) was given the No. 8 seed in the tournament, and even though it was a hard fought battle Green River would lose 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-20 and 15-10). Water Canyon would move on, eventually losing to State Champion Panguitch.
November 1- Tintic- Win 3-0
In the second match of the day Green River would take on No. 16 Tintic (7-18 and 2-2). They would handle them easily winning in straight sets 25-8, 25-19 and 25-13. That match would end Tintic’s tournament and would propel the Pirates to day two of the competition.
November 2- Whitehorse- Loss 3-1
On the final day the Lady Pirates would face the No.13 Whitehorse Raiders (8-10 and 2-4). Green River had faced them twice before in Region 19 play. In September the Pirates were victorious 3-1 and again in Mid-October when they defeated them 3-2. But it was not meant to be as the Raiders would win 3-1 (25-17, 17-25, 14-25 and 16-25). Whitehorse would go on to finish eighth in 1A.