The season came to an end for the Pinnacle Panthers volleyball team on Oct.23 in the opening round of the 1A State Championships with a loss to the Altamont Longhorns. The Panthers ended the season with a record of 3-17 and went 0-8 in region play.

Pinnacle will say goodbye to three seniors of of this years squad and the underclassmen have had plenty of playing time this season to build toward next year.

August 12- Tintic- Loss 3-0

The Pinnacle Lady Panthers volleyball team started their 2021 season on the road in Tintic on Thursday. After keeping it close in the first two sets, Tintic took over the third set defeating Pinnacle 3-0.

Last season Pinnacle got the best of Tintic both times the teams faced off. The Panthers finished the 2020 season at 4-12 and lost in round one of the State Championships.

The first two sets were tight with Tintic taking the first 26-24 and the second 25-23. In set number 3 the wheels fell off for the Lady Panthers dropping it 25-7.

It’s still early in the season and there are plenty of games left to play. They will begin their region schedule on August 31 in Green River and the season will wind down in October when the first round of the State Playoffs on October 23 and the Finals will take place October 29-30 at Utah Valley University.

The Panther squad is led by seniors JoshLyn Clark, Samantha Kessler, Ashlyn Behunin and Kemery Stuckenschneider.

Up next they will face American Prep from West Valley in Price on Tuesday. Game time is set for 6:15.

August 18- American Prep- Win 3-0

The Pinnacle Panther volleyball team put one in the win column on Tuesday when they welcomed American Preparatory Academy to Price. While all three sets were competitive Pinnacle took the clean sweep to notch their first victory of the season.

The Panthers opened up the year on the road with a loss to Tintic. Now sitting at 1-1 they have a full slate ahead of them as the young season continues.

The two teams were very closely matched as evidenced by the final scores. Pinnacle took the straight set win 25-21, 25-23 and 25-20.

The Panthers won’t start region play until Aug. 31 when they travel to Green River to face the Pirates for the first time this season.

They will be back on their home floor this Friday at 6:15 to face Tintic and then again on Saturday against Wendover at 3:15.

August 20- Tintic- Loss 3-2

Coming off of the win with American Prep, the Panthers welcomed the Tintic Miners to Price. Facing off against the Miners for the second time in just over a week, Pinnacle did mange to take a couple of sets in this match however that would be all as Tintic won in five sets.

The Panthers came out firing taking set one 26-24. The Miners came back taking set two 25-22, with Pinnacle fighting back to take set three 25-20. The Miners would claim victory in the third and fourth sets 25-18 and 25-9.

Madison Sasser would collect 12 digs in this contest while Heather Kerr grabbed six kills and Kemery Stuckenschneider added 8 assist.

August 21- Wendover- Loss 3-0

The Pinnacle Panthers didn’t have much time to regroup after their five set loss to Tinitc on Friday and then turned around and on Saturday to face the Wendover Wildcats. The outcome unfortunately wasn’t any different as the Panthers lost their second in a row 3-0.

All three sets were very close with Wendover claiming the first 25-17. Set two was another Wildcat win 25-18 and the final set, the most competitive ended the match 25-22.

Kemery Stuckenschneider collected six assists to go with her three digs and Madison Sasser added three digs as well.

August 24- Dugway- Win- 3-1

Coming off of back to back losses to Tintic and Wendover, the Pinnacle Panthers welcomed Dugway to Price on Tuesday night.  Even though Dugway took set number one, the Panthers came back winning the next three sending the Mustangs home with their second loss of the season.

The match itself was very competitive with Dugway coming out and claiming the first set win 25-22. Pinnacle would then go on a run showing determination winning set two 25-18.  Sets three and four were both just as exciting with the Panthers winning them 25-21 and 25-19.

Kemery Stuckenschneider helped the cause with 12 assists and Samantha Kessler added five kills and seven digs in the win.

August 27-28- APA-West Valley Taking Flight Tournament- Record 0-4

The Panthers traveled to West Valley over the weekend  for the American Preparatory Academy Taking Flight Tournament. Playing teams from 2A all the way up to 5A the Panthers were outmatched and came home with an 0-4 record.

Below is a recap of their matches in the tournament:

August 27- Jordan- Loss 3-0

In their first match of the weekend the Panthers faced the Jordan Beetdiggers, a team from the 5A ranks and fell in straight sets.

Jordan jumped out in the first set setting the tone with a 25-9 win. Set two and set three were more of the same with Jordan winning 25-9 and 25-5.

Madison Sasser and Samantha Kessler each collected five digs while Kemery Stuckenschneider added four assists.

August 27- St. Joeseph’s- Loss 3-0

St. Joeseph is a school from 2A in Ogden, and they entered the game with Pinnacle sitting at 3-1 on the young season. The Jayhawks took the straight set victory but Pinnacle was in every set.

In set number one the Jayhawks came out firing and the Panthers almost matched them shot for shot but in the end St. Joeseph’s took the 25-22 win.  Set two was more of the same back and forth until the Jayhawks pulled away winning 25-16, And then in set three the Panthers would fall  25-10.

Ashlyn Behinun collected five digs in the contest and Stuckenschneider added four assists.

August 28- Summit Academy- Loss 3-0

The Summit Academy Bears are a 3A team from Bluffdale and entered the match with the Panthers with a record of 1-1 playing their first two games yesterday. The Panthers were overpowered falling in straight sets to the Bears, falling to 0-3 in the tournament.

Coming out in set one the Bears claimed a 25-11 win. Set two was another Summit Academy win 25-16 and the Panthers fell in the third set 25-13.

August 28- American Preparatory Draper- Loss 3-0 

In the final match of the weekend the Panthers faced Draper APA, playing in the 2A class the Eagles quickly jumped out on the Panthers taking the straight set win.

The Eagles took the first two sets against Pinnacle 25-11, set number three was a 25-16 win for Draper as well.

Heather Kerr collected three kills in the contest. Saaser and Kessler both added six digs each and Stuckenschneider contributed with five assists.

August 31- Green River- Loss 3-0

The Pirates and Panthers have both had their ups and downs this season. Pinnacle sits at 2-8 and Green River 4-5, and both are headed into the region portion of their schedules.  And with conference play the match-up between these two rivals is always fun and always competitive.  And that was the case on Tuesday in Green River when the two got together. Playing on their home floor gave the Pirates an edge and they won the match in straight sets.

The Pirates had one loss in the last three matches headed into Tuesday. They dispatched Wendover twice and their only loss came at the hands of Wayne.

Pinnacle on the other hand has struggled ever since the win against Dugway on August 24. Last weekend they participated in the APA tournament in Draper, playing four matches in two days and unfortunately going 0-4 in those contests.

In the meeting with Pinnacle, Green River came out and quickly took over the first set winning 25-18. In set two it was more of the same from the onset with the Pirates claiming a 25-17 win. And then to close out the final set Green River turn up the defensive pressure allowing only nine points from Pinnacle.

Next up for Green River a road trip to Montezuma Creek to face Whitehorse on Thursday. They will be home on Sept. 17 to face the same Whitehorse team.

Up for Pinnacle, they will be off until Sept. 7, when they will be on the road to take on Bryce Valley. On Sept.16 they welcome Monticello to the gym in Price.

September 7- Bryce Valley- Loss 3-0

The Pinnacle Panthers were on the road in Tropic on Tuesday night to face the Bryce Valley Mustangs. The last time the Panthers were on the court was a week ago in Green River, when they took the loss at the hands of the Pirates. In Tropic, the Mustangs came out to play, defeating Pinnacle in straight sets.

The Panthers could never get going as the Mustangs claimed the first set 25-14. Set two was a little more competitive with the Panthers coming up just short taking a 25-21 loss. In the final set Bryce Valley kept their foot on the gas and grabbed the 25-9 win.

Ryver Cammans and Darolani Motte both collect four digs each.

September 20- Diamond Ranch- Win 3-1 

Pinnacle volleyball found themselves with a four game home stand beginning last Thursday and winding up on this Friday night. The Panthers have had their struggles this season putting wins together, they sit at 3-11 and 0-3 in region play and they currently hold the No. 19 spot in the RPI. Coming off of back to back losses at the hands of Monticello and Whitehorse, Pinnacle faced the Diamond Ranch Academy Diamondbacks on Monday night taking the 3-1 win.

The Panthers were looking to put the two losses behind them and jumped out taking the first and second set from the Diamondbacks 25-22 and 25-18.

Diamond Ranch came out in set three pushing Pinnacle to a 28-26 loss. In the fourth set the Panthers pushed right back beating the Diamondbacks by the same 28-26 score.

The Panthers have five games left on the regular season, beginning with a home match on Friday against Monument Valley.

Pinnacle will then be road warriors for their next three. Friday Oct. 1, they will be in Monticello. Then they following week on Wednesday Oct.6, the Panthers will be in Monument Valley. They will wrap up their road games in Montezuma Creek when they face Whitehorse on Friday, Oct. 8. Pinnacle will wrap up the regular season on Thursday Oct. 14 at home to take on Green River.

The match with Monument Valley on Friday will start at 6:45.

September 24- Monument Valley- Loss- 3-0

Coming off a 3-1 win over Diamond Ranch, the Panthers welcomed Monument Valley to Price on Friday night for a region match.  The Cougars entered the contest sitting at 3-2 and would collect another win in straight sets over Pinnacle.

This was a tight contest throughout with the Cougars taking the first set win 25-17. The Panthers came out in set two and gave Monument Valley all they wanted with the Cougars coming back and taking the 27-25 win. In set three, the Cougars settled back down taking a 25-11 win.

Heathe Kerr found four kills and three blocks in the match. Samantha Kessler collected seven digs, Ashlyn Behunin added six and Kemery Stuckenschneider had four assists.

September 30- Monticello- Loss 3-0

Heading into their final stretch of the regular season, the Pinnacle Panthers were on the road to face Monticello on Thursday. Last Friday they fell in straight sets to Monument Valley. Monticello has not lost a region game all season and they continued that streak taking a straight set win.

The Buckaroos came out in the first set 25-15. Sets two went to Monticello 25-5. The Panthers came out swinging in set three and put up a serious fight but at the end of it all Monticello took the 25-21 win in the final set.

Heather Kerr collected three kills and four blocks. Darolani Motte and Samantha Kessler each gathered three digs and Kemery Stuckenschneider added three assists.

October 6- Monument Valley- Loss 3-1

The Pinnacle Panther volleyball team was on the road in Monument Valley on Thursday night for a face-off with the Cougars. Taking the first set 26-24 the Panthers were looking to put another win on the board, however Monument Valley would come back to take the final three sets winning the match 3-1.

Monument Valley came roaring back in set number two with a 25-4 win. Sets three and four would both go to the Cougars as well 25-12 and 25-11.

For Pinnacle, Heather Kerr collected four kills to go along with her five blocks.  Kemery Stuckenschneider put up eight assists. Samantha Kessler had eight digs and Darolani Motte added seven.

The game with Monument Valley puts the Panthers in a three game losing streak that began with a straight set loss to the Cougars on Sept.24. Six days later they fell to Monticello in straight sets as well.

The Panthers are siting at 3-14 and are in the No. 20 spot in the 1A RPI with just two games left on the season.

Friday night the Whitehorse Raiders welcome the Panthers to Montezuma Creek. The two teams faced each other on Sept. 18 with the Raiders taking the straight set win.

The final game of the regular season will take place Thursday when the Green River Pirates come to town on Senior Night for the Panthers.

The game with Green River is set to start at 6:45 p.m..

October 8- Whitehorse- Loss 3-1

The Pinnacle Panther Volleyball team headed to Montezuma Creek to take on the Whitehorse Raiders Friday night. Going four sets the Panthers kept it close all the way to the end, but Whitehorse took the 3-1 win.

Pinnacle has struggled this season collecting just 3 wins. They sit at No. 21 in the 1A RPI and have now lost their last four matches including two to Monument Valley, one to Monticello and the contest with the Raiders.

Every set was hotly contested, in the first Whitehorse claimed a close 25-21 victory. Set two was the only one that had a little distance between the two squads with the Raiders taking the 25-16 win. Pinnacle would come back in the third and came out on top 28-26. In the fourth and final set Whitehorse once again was pushed by the Panthers but at the end still earned the 25-23 win.

Pinnacle now waits until Thursday when they will play the final game of the regular season against the Green River Pirates.

The Pirates are currently 9-8 and hold the No. 9 RPI. Back on Aug. 31 the Panthers traveled to Green River and took the straight set loss.

Thursday will be Senior Night and the game is set to begin at 6:45.

October 14- Green River- Loss 3-1

It’s always fun when Green River and Pinnacle get together regardless of the sport, and this year the Pirates visit to Price happened to coincide with The final game of the regular season, a home game for the Panthers. Back on Aug. 31 the Panthers traveled to Green River to face the Pirates with the home team then taking the straight set win. On Thursday night, “Senior Night”, Green River completed the season sweep 3-1.

The Pirates began the night taking the first two sets 25-13 and 25-12. Pinnacle came back in the third set fighting their way to a 25-23 win, set four however, like the match , went to Green River 25-16.

Persephone Jones, Heather Kerr and Darolani Motte each had two kills in the contest. Samantha Kessler grabbed six digs and Kemery Stuckenschneider had three assists.

The Panthers now head into the 1A State Championship Tournament that will begin on October 23.

October 23- Altamont- Round One of the 1A State Championships- Loss 3-0

The Pinnacle Panthers found themselves on the road over the weekend in Altamont for the opening round of the 1A State Championship Tournament. Pinnacle entered the playoffs with the No. 21 spot in the RPI and the Altamont Longhorns the No. 12.  The Longhorns were too much for the Panthers as they took the victory in straight sets and advanced to the next round.

The Panthers entered the match losing their previous five, the last one coming at the hands of the Green River Pirates Sept. 14 on “Senior Night” at Pinnacle.

Altamont jumped out in the first set taking a 25-6 win. Sets number two and three weren’t much better for the Panthers losing them 25-8 and 25-9. The Longhorns will now advance to play No. 5 Escalante on Friday at Utah Valley University.

Pinnacle ended the season 3-17 and 0-8 in Region 23 play.  The Panthers will lose three seniors: Kemery Stuckenschneider, Ashlyn Behunin and Samntha Kessler to graduation.