The Lady Spartans volleyball squad made the trip to Richfield for the Sevier Valley Invitational. Playing four matches in two days, the Spartans were unable to collect a win against some of the top teams in the 1A, 2A, and 3A classifications.
Emery sits at 8-16 overall and 1-5 in Region 13 play with just a pair of games left before the season ends on October 18. They sit in the No. 15 spot in the latest rankings.
In game one, they faced the No. 1 team in 1A, Panguitch. The Bobcats took the lead with wins in sets one and two, but the Lady Spartans took set three in an attempt to turn the match around. However, the Bobcats would come back in set four to get the set and the match win.
Panguitch jumped out and took a quick win in set number one with a 25-10 victory. The Bobcats took the win in set number two, 25-23. Set three was the Lady Spartans’ time to shine, taking a 25-21 win. Panguitch would come back to take a 25-19 win in set four and take the match 3-1.
Next up for the Lady Spartans was the South Sevier Rams. The Rams sit at 13-12 and hold the No. 9 spot in 2A. South Sevier went to work on the Spartans, getting the win in straight sets, 3-0.
In the first two sets, the Lady Spartans kept close to the Rams, but South Sevier earned wins in both sets, 25-20 and 25-22. In the third set, the Rams put a little more distance between themselves and Emery, taking the set 25-17.
After getting some rest on Friday night, Emery faced 3A Morgan, which holds the No. 3 spot in the 3A rankings. These two teams are not strangers to each other. Last season, the Trojans ended the Spartans’ hopes for a repeat State Championship in the quarterfinals, and the year before, Emery earned the title by beating Morgan.
The Lady Spartans hung with the Trojans in the opening set, but Morgan took the first set 25-18. Set number two was over quickly as Emery fell 25-8. The third and final set was all Morgan as they closed out the Spartans 25-11 to secure the 3-0 set win.
In the final match of the weekend, the Spartans faced the Richfield Wildcats, the No. 6 team in 3A. These two teams aren’t strangers either, as they have shared the same region in the past. The teams split the first two sets, but then the Wildcats would shut down the Lady Spartans to get the 3-1 win.
Richfield jumped out, taking a victory in the first set 25-13. Emery came back in the second set to take a 25-10 win to even up the match at 1-1. The Wildcats came back, battling in the third set, but the Spartans were ready and unfortunately got edged out by Richfield 26-24. The fourth and final set went to Richfield as well, with the same score as the first: 25-13. Emery fell 3-1 to the Wildcats.
Emery will be on the road on Tuesday in Price to face the Lady Dinos. They will then wrap up the season on Thursday when North Sanpete will be at the Spartan Center for the final home game of the regular season and Senior Night.
Game time for both contests is set for 6:30 p.m..