The Emery Lady Spartans put together a great season finishing 27-2 overall with a 7-1 region record and went into the 3A State Championship Tournament as the No. 1 seed. The most impressive part of the season is that throughout 29 games including the playoffs the Spartans lost just 12 sets. The made quick work of Canyon View and Ogden on day one but, day two’s first opponent was defending champ Union, and Emery fell in four sets.
The Spartans would bounce back against Richfield to end the season on third place in 3A.
Below is a recap of all of the Lady Spartans matches this season.
August 18- North Sevier- Win 3-1
The Lady Spartans returned to the volleyball court to begin their 2021 campaign on Wednesday night. Welcoming in the North Sevier Wolves from Region 16 of the 2A class. Battling through the first two sets Emery claimed the last two easily and took the 3-1 win.
Last season the Spartans finished with a 12-14 record and fell to Richfield in the consolation round of the 3A State Championship Tournament in October.
In the opening set of the match with the Wolves, the Spartans got on the board early and claimed the win 25-17. The second set was more of a battle going back and forth with both sides committing unforced errors, it would go down to the wire with North Sevier taking the set 26-24.
The final two sets were all Spartans with Emery coming back and finding their groove, winning both 25-16 and 25-18.
Now starts a busy two weeks for the Spartans. Thursday they are on the road to take on Manti. Tuesday they will be back home for Uintah before heading to Roosevelt for a tournament at Union High School next weekend.
August 24 – Uintah – Win 3-1
The Lady Spartans have yet to lose a contest this season sitting at 3-0. Just last week they were on the road in Manti and came home with a straight set win. Tuesday they welcomed Uintah to the Spartan Center and earned a 3-1 victory over the Utes.
In the match with Manti, the Spartans fought back and forth with the Templars to take the first set 25-22. In set two, Emery was a little more dominant taking the 25-15 win. The third and final set was close, but in the end the Spartans pulled away and took the 25-21 victory.
In a tightly contested first set the Spartans held off the Utes winning 25-23. Emery and Uintah would split the next two, with the Spartans taking set two 25-16 and set three went to the Utes 26-24. Emery would come back taking the fourth and final set 25-15 claiming the match.
The Spartans will head back to the road on Friday when they travel to Roosevelt to participate in a tournament at Union High School. Their first match is set against the North Summit Braves on Friday. North Summit is a 2A school from Coalville.
Emery will be back at the Spartan Center on Aug. 31 to face Altamont in one of the few remaining non-region games they have left.
August 27-28 Union Tournament -Record 6-0
The Emery Spartan volleyball team had already faced three opponents before they headed to the Union tournament last weekend . With wins under their belt against North Sevier, Manti and Uintah they entered the weekend a perfect 3-0. With six matches facing them in two days the Spartans battled and walked away a perfect 9-0 on the season Saturday afternoon.
Below is a recap of all the matches over the weekend:
August 27 – Manti – Win – 3-1
This was the second time this season that these two teams had faced off with each other. Just a week before the Spartans claimed a 3-0 victory on Manti’s home floor.
The Templars would push the Spartans to four sets, taking set one 25-22. Emery came back to grab the remaining three sets 25-16, 25-15 and 25-19, starting the weekend off in the win column.
August 27 – North Summit – Win 3-2
The match with North Summit would prove to be the toughest of the weekend going a complete five sets. The North Summit Braves play in Region 16 of the 2A class, but played the Spartans close.
In the first set the Braves came out and set the tone 25-23. Emery would come back to take the next two sets 25-18 and 25-13.
Set number four belonged to North Summit, as they would come out on top once again 25-13. and the final and deciding fifth set was all Spartans 15-8.
August 27 – Valley – Win 3-0
The final match for the Spartans on Friday was against Valley, a 1A school from Orderville in Southern Utah.
The Buffaloes were outnumbered from the start against the Spartans and Emery made quick work of them in straight sets 25-10, 25-14 and 25-20.
August 28 – American Heritage – Win 3-0
In the first of back to back matches against American Heritage the Spartans came out firing taking the match 3-0.
The Spartans were a dominant force in this match posting the straight set victory 25-7, 25-13 and the third set was the closest 25-20.
August 28 – American Heritage – Win 3-0
The Spartans would turn around and face the Patriots of American Heritage once more, once again winning in straight sets although this match would be a little closer.
American Heritage would push Emery to the limit in the first set 25-22. Set number two was more to the Spartans liking as they claimed a 25-11 victory. And the final set went Emery’s way once again 25-16.
August 28 – North Summit- Win 3-0
The final match of the tournament for Emery was against North Summit. Taking what they learned in the first meeting the Spartans wasted no time finishing off the Braves in straight sets.
All three sets were very competitive with the first set going to Emery 26-24. The final two were much of the same with Emery taking those with the identical score of 25-22.
Through the last four matches the Spartans never dropped one set. And pushed their season record to 9-0.
Up next is a non-region match-up with Altamont at the Spartan center on Tuesday. Game time is 6:30.
August 31- Altamont- Win 3-0
The Lady Spartans have been dominant on the court this season as they make their way through the non-conference portion of their schedule. They sit at a perfect 10-0 with one non-region foe, Juab, left. In the match with Altamont on Tuesday they didn’t even let the Longhorns up for air winning in straight sets.
Emery has been making quick work of teams all pre-season only dropping five sets in 10 matches. They seem to be hitting their stride as the region schedule looms just around the corner.
Against Altamont they jumped quickly taking the first set by a score of 25-13. The next two sets were identical in the score department with the Spartans taking those 25-16.
With five seniors on the squad, Emery is leaning on their leadership to push the way through the season.
The Spartans have one more non-region match on Wednesday with Juab. They will go toe-to-toe with Richfield on Thursday, a team they lost to both times they faced each other last season. Richfield sits at 3-8 this season.
The next time the Spartans will be at home in the Spartan Center is Sept. 8, when they will welcome the Canyon View Falcons. Canyon View is a new team to Region 12 this year from Cedar City.
The Match with Canyon View will begin at 6:30.
September 1- Juab- Win 3-0
The Emery Spartan volleyball team haven’t lost a match since the season began back on August 18. Wednesday they were on the road in Nephi to face the Juab Wasps. Picking up where they left off the Spartans, took the straight set win in a very competitive contest.
In the match against Juab, all three sets were a fight for the Spartans. Emery earned a first set victory 25-22. Set number two was a little easier for the Spartans beating them by nine points 25-16 and the final set was tight once again 25-21.
The Spartans are sitting at 11-0 as they begin the region portion of their schedule. With teams like North Sevier, Manti, Uintah and Juab in their rear view, the focus will turn to Region 12.
The Spartans will look to continue their streak Thursday when they travel to Richfield for a contest with the Wildcats. The Spartans struggled last season with Richfield as they lost both matches. This season Richfield is sitting at 3-8, which may be a bit misleading. The Wildcats first seven games were against schools from the 4A-6A ranks. They have turned it around recently and are now winners of three out of their last four.
On Wednesday the Spartans will back on the floor at the Spartan Center to welcome the Canyon View Falcons. Game time is 6:30.
September 2- Richfield- Win 3-0
Looking back over the last ten plus years, the most games the Lady Spartans had won to start the season was three. This year they are marching through taking no prisoners, putting together 12 wins in a row after last night’s straight set win against the Richfield Wildcats.
Spartan volleyball has come to play this season. Through their first 12 wins they are flat out dominating teams, losing just five sets. And 12-0 is a great way to head into the region portion of their schedule as well.
Don’t let the straight set win fool you it was still very competitive with every set decided by five points or less. In set one Emery fought to a 25-22 win. Set number two ended with the Spartans on top 25-20 and the third and final set ended with a score of 25-23.
The Spartans will face the Canyon View Falcons on Wednesday. The Falcons played in the 4A classification last season finishing the year at 6-19. This year in 3A they have already matched that win total and currently are sitting at 6-3. They will then turn around and go on the road to face non-region foe Duchesne on Thursday. After that date the next match on their schedule won’t take place until Sept. 21, when they welcome Carbon to the Spartan Center.
Another date the Spartans have circled is Sept.11, when the Utah High School Activities Association will release it’s initial RPI ranking for the season.
The match on Wednesday with Canyon View is set to begin at 6:30.
September 8- Canyon View- Win 3-0
Thirteen wins to start the season for the Lady Spartans volleyball team is an amazing feat, but they’re not done yet. Emery earned victory No. 13 over region foe the Canyon View Falcons on the road on Wednesday in Cedar City, 3-0.
Through thirteen games this season the Spartans have only lost five sets, and in nine games they have not lost a set at all.
In the match-up with Canyon View, Emery came out focused taking the first set 25-15. Set two was the closest going 25-17 and in the third and final set the Spartans claimed a 25-10 win closing out the Falcons.
Emery has a non conference contest with Duchesne on Thursday. This will be one of the final non-region games left as they will jump into the heart of league play on Sept.21 when they welcome the Carbon Dinos to the Spartan Center. After the Carbon match there will be just six games left on the schedule. The Spartans will wrap up the season in Price to face the Dinos on October 19.
The Spartans will also be looking forward to this Saturday when the Utah High School Activities Association will release the initial RPI rankings. These rankings will be updated daily until the end of the regular season when the 3A State Championship Tournament Bracket will be revealed on October 20 and the first round of the playoffs will begin on October 23.
September 9- Duchesne- Win 3-0
Emery moved to 14-0 after a straight set win Thursday night against the Duchesne Eagles on the road. The Lady Spartans have been on a run since the beginning of the season and the match with the Eagles wasn’t any different with the Spartans controlling all aspects of the contest.
The Spartans are on a historic run for the program, starting out the season at 14-0. Last year the Spartans went 12-14 and would be on track to slide into the State Record Book if they could play out a perfect regular season. But let’s take one game at a time.
In the meeting with Duchesne, The Spartans dominated on both offense and defense winning all three sets 25-9, 25-20 and 25-18.
On Saturday, the Utah High School Activities Association will release the first look at the RPI for volleyball. These rankings will ultimately determine where Emery will land when the post season begins on Oct. 23.
The Spartans will take a bit of a break now as they will not be on the floor until Sept. 21 when they will face the Carbon Dinos at the Spartan Center. Carbon is sitting at 10-1 with their only loss this year coming at the hands of reigning 3A champion Union, 3-1.
September 21- Carbon- Win 3-0
On Wednesday night in Castle Dale the No.4 Emery Spartan volleyball team welcomed in the No. 1 Carbon Dinos. The two teams faced each other for the first time on the court all season. The Dinos seemed out of sorts and even though every set was a battle, at the end the Spartans handed the Dinos their second loss of the season in straight sets.
The Spartans came out to do battle and in the first set it went back and forth just like you thought this match would, but at the end Emery took the 25-23 victory.
Set number two was all Emery early, pushing the score to 20-13 at one point. The Dinos turned it on and pushed back getting the score as close as 23-20 and the Spartans put the brakes on the Carbon rally adding two more points and taking set two by a score of 25-23.
In the final set, the Spartans seemed to be on cruise control putting up a 16-13 score at one point, but Carbon would not go quietly pushing the score to 24-21. Tambrie Tuttle would bury one deep in the corner on Carbon’s side and seal the Spartan win.
The Spartans moved up the RPI to take the No. 3 position with just five games left on the schedule. Tomorrow they will be on the road in Moab to take on the Grand County Red Devils. This is the first time all season that they have played each other. Emery will be back on their home floor again next Tuesday to face the Richfield Wildcats.
After the match Carbon would fall to 13-2 on the season and retained the No. 1 ranking in the RPI, but their lead over the Spartans is just 0.007708. Carbon still has six games on their schedule until the end of the regular season when they will once again face the Spartans in Price. The next home match for the Dinos is on Friday when they meet American Heritage in a non-region match.
September 23- Grand- Win 3-0
The Emery Lady Spartan volleyball team are a perfect 16-0 after their road win in Moab over the Grand County Red Devils Thursday night. Emery is one of only three teams in the state that have an unblemished record. Emery also holds the No. 2 spot in the RPI.
Syracuse (6A), Bountiful (5A) and Emery (3A) are the only remaining unbeaten teams in Utah as the regular season is drawing to a close. After the Grand game Thursday, the Spartans have just four games left.
The contest against Grand went the way most victories have come for Emery this season, in straight sets.
The Spartans came out in the first set taking the win 25-14. Set two was a little more competitive 25-23. Emery then collected the third set with the score of 25-14 sealing the win, and keeping the perfect season in tact. The Spartans have only dropped five sets all season throughout the 16 matches they have played, and haven’t lost a set since Aug. 27.
The Carbon Dinos still hold the No. 1 spot in the RPI and Emery now sits just 0.007332 points behind them.
The Spartans have only four games left on the regular season schedule against teams they have already faced this season.
The march toward the post-season will begin on Tuesday, when Emery welcomes Richfield to Castle Dale. The following week they are on the road in Cedar City to face the Canyon View Falcons in the only match Emery will play that week.
The week of Oct. 12 the will host Grand for senior night. The regular season will come to an end on Oct 19 in Price when they will face the Carbon Dinos.
September 28- Richfield- Win 3-0
The Lady Spartans continued their winning ways on Tuesday when they faced Region 12 for the Richfield Wildcats in Castle Dale. riding 16 wins in a row the Spartans once again made quick work of their opponent in straight sets.
Emery jumped out and took a quick 25-14 win in the first set. Set number two was another win this time 25-16 and the final set was the most competitive as the Spartans closed out the Wildcats 25-23.
The Spartans will look for their 18th win in a row as they face the Canyon View Falcons on Tuesday in Cedar City.
October 5- Canyon View- Loss 3-1
It was a tremendous run while it lasted but the Emery Lady Spartan’s 17 game winning streak to start the season ended Tuesday night on the road in Cedar City at the hands of the Canyon View Falcons in four sets.
The Spartans were back and forth with the Falcons throughout the match. Canyon View won the first set, a close one, 26-24. Emery would storm back in set number two 25-12.
The final two sets belonged to Canyon View 25-22 and 25-19 as they claimed the match victory 3-1.
The loss doesn’t effect Emery in the standings, they are still sitting in the No. 3 spot in the RPI behind Carbon and Morgan, who holds the No. 1 spot.
Emery will be on the road this weekend as they will head to Richfield for a tournament at the Sevier Valley Center. On Friday the are set to face Rich (No. 5 in 1A), San Juan (No. 19 in 2A) and South Sevier (No.9 in 2A).
After the Richfield tournament, the Spartans will return home to face the Grand County Red Devils (No. 15 in 3A), before ending the season the following Tuesday in Price to face the Dinos (No. 2 in 3A).
In their first meeting with Grand, Emery came away with the straight set win.
October 8- Richfield Tournament- Record 5-0
The Emery Spartan volleyball squad headed down to Richfield last weekend to play in a tournament. Playing against teams from the 1A, 2A and 3A ranks the Spartans ended the weekend a perfect 5-0 moving their overall record to 22-1 and climbing to the top of the 3A RPI with just two games left in the regular season.
The Spartans have been on cruise control all season, losing just one match to Canyon View and more impressively dropping just eight sets all year.
In the first match of the weekend the Spartans would face the Rich Rebels, a 1A school from Randolph. The Rebels sit in the No. 5 spot in the RPI. Emery jumped out taking the first set 25-10 and finished Rich off in set two 25-19.
The second match would pit the Spartans against the San Juan Broncos, the No. 19 school in 2A. The first match was very competitive with Emery coming up with the 25-18 win. Set number two went a little easier with the Spartans taking the 25-9 win.
In the final match on Friday, the Spartans faced South Sevier the No. 10 team in 2A. Once again both matches were challenging for Emery winning the first set by the score of 25-18 and coming back and taking set two, 25-16.
On Saturday the Spartans took to the floor to face a familiar opponent, the Richfield Wildcats. The two teams have faced off twice already this season in region play with Emery taking both matches in straight sets. Once again it was the Spartans who would come out on top in straight sets 25-20, 25-16 and 25-24.
The last match of the weekend was against Juab another team the Spartans have faced this season. Back on Sept. 1, Emery traveled to Nephi to take on the Wasps and came back with the straight set victory. This time around it was more of the same as the Spartans went to work defeating Juab 25-18, 25-9 and 25-18.
At the end of two days worth of competition, Emery went a perfect 5-0 and taking over the top spot in the RPI. Carbon, Morgan, South Summit and Union now round out the top five.
Tuesday, the Spartans will be on the court in Castle Dale for their final home game of the regular season, when they welcome Grand to the Spartan Center. On Sept.23, Emery traveled to Moab and returned home with the straight set win over the Red Devils.
The final game of the regular season will be in Price as the Spartans will face the Carbon Dinos. Emery handed the Dinos a straight set loss back on Sept. 21. With Carbon at No. 2 and Emery at No.1 this will be a contest not to be missed.
October 12- Grand- Win 3-0
A week removed from their first loss of the season, the Emery Spartans seem to have righted the ship, rattling off five straight wins. Tuesday was Senior Night at the Spartan Center and the Grand County Red Devils were in town. The Spartans have made a habit out of not dropping a single set in the majority of the wins they have posted this season and it was more of the same against the Red Devils, a straight set win.
Emery didn’t waste much time getting going against the Red Devils taking set one 25-13. Sets two and three went rather quickly as well, with the Spartans claiming the victory in those 25-17 and 25-18.
The Spartans season records sits at 23-1 and 6-1 in region play. When the RPI was taken down earlier in the week, Emery was sitting in the No.1 spot and should remain there for the foreseeable future.
The Spartans will be back on the court Tuesday, when they will face the Carbon Dinos. Carbon is coming off of a loss to Richfield on Tuesday and the Dinos were sitting in the No. 2 spot.
The final RPI will be revealed on Wednesday the 20, three days before the opening round of the 3A State Championship Tournament.
October 19- Carbon- Win 3-1
For the second and final time this regular season the Emery Spartans and the Carbon Dinos met on the court. Back on Sept. 21 in Castle Dale the Lady Spartans claimed a straight set win. On Tuesday night they met at the Carbon High gym on Senior Night for the Dinos and the Spartans grabbed another win this time in four sets 3-1.
Emery took set one with the final score of 25-22. Set number two belonged to Emery once more 28-26.
In set number three Carbon grabbed a 25-21 win over the Spartans but in the end it was Emery taking the fourth and final set 25-22 and winning the match.
On Wednesday morning the Utah High School Activities Association released the final rankings and the bracket for the 3A State Championship Tournament. Emery claim the No. 1 spot overall and Carbon landed in the No. 3 position, which means both of them will be back on the floor on Wednesday the 27th at Utah Valley University.
Emery will face the winner of Canyon View and Providence Hall. The Spartans haven’t faced Providence Hall this season, but did face Canyon View twice since both teams are in Region 12, splitting both contest Canyon View was the only team to put a loss on Emery this season.
October 27- 3A State Championships Day One- Record 2-0
The Lady Spartans traveled to Utah Valley University Wednesday for their opening round matches in the 3A State Championships. Emery faced Canyon View and then Ogden in the first two matches of the tournament for the Spartans, and much like the rest of the season Emery came away with straight set victories in both.
In their opening match the Spartans met up with fellow Region 12 member the Canyon View Falcons. Canyon View was the only team to hand the Spartans a regular season loss, 3-1 on October 5 in Cedar City.
Emery may have had revenge on their minds as they made quick work of the Falcons 25-22, 25-15 and 25-19.
In game two, Emery faced the Ogden Tigers. Ogden entered with a 16-13 record and the No. 8 spot in the RPI. Once again the Spartans jumped out to a straight set win 25-4, 25-16 and 25-12.
The win moves Emery into the semifinals where they will face defending 3A champs Union.
Union earned the spot in the semis with wins on Wednesday over No. 13 Juan Diego and No. 5 South Summit.
The two will face off Thursday at 9:30 at Utah Valley University. The winner will advance to the Championship Match at 4:30.
October 28- 3A State Championships Day Two- Record 1-1
The Emery Spartans season, that at one point saw them win 17 in a row, came to an end on Thursday at Utah Valley University with a win over Richfield in the third place match.
The Spartans began the day on Thursday taking on the defending 3A State Champion Union Cougars. The Cougars were ranked No. 4 in the final RPI of the season with the Spartans being the No. 1 seed.
Emery came out and won the first set 25-20. After that the Cougars took over winning the next three 25-23, 25-16 and 25-13. Union would advance to take on Morgan, a rematch of last years finale with the same result as the Union Cougars are the three time 3A State Champions.
Emery would then move on to face the Richfield Wildcats in the third and fourth place match. Being from the same region Emery and Richfield have already squared off this season with the Spartans taking all three contests, most recently a straight set win on Oct. 9 at a tournament in Richfield.
The Spartans jumped out claiming set one 25-14. The next set was the most lopsided of the tournament for Emery as they made quick work of the Wildcats 25-6 and finally in the third set the Spartans put them away taking it 25-13.
Emery finished in third place in 3A. Union claimed the top spot followed by Morgan then Emery, Richfield and Delta rounding out the top five.