Lady Red Devils fall to Spartans

The Lady Red Devil volleyball team kept the score close in each set, but ultimately fell 3-0 in its homecoming against Emery on Thursday, Oct. 2.

The loss gives Grand a 2-4 record in Region 15 play with four region matches remaining. The Lady Red Devils currently sit at fourth in the region standings, leading North Sevier and Wasatch Academy for the final spot in the state playoffs.

The Lady Red Devils stayed neck and neck with Emery in the beginning of the first set before the Spartans ultimately pulled away to take the set 25-19.

In the second set, Grand jumped out to a 10-5 lead before Emery called timeout to regroup. The timeout proved beneficial for the spartans, who scored the next four points to bring the score to 10-9, before Grand went on a run, scoring the next five points to start a 9-4 run in which the Lady Red Devils extended their lead twice to six points. Emery went on a run of its own down 19-13. scoring nine straight points and forcing Grand to use two timeouts on a run that only ended when the Spartans served the ball into the net. The Lady Red Devils continued to fight until Emery clinched the set at 25-22 when senior Kasey Betts was called in the net on a spike attempt.

Emery continued to carry the momentum into the third set, jumping out to a 6-2 lead and extending its advantage to as many as eight points, which occurred three times: 14-6, 17-9 and 18-10. The Lady Red Devils responded with a 5-0 run to pull within three, then traded points while steadily cutting into the advantage, taking the lead themselves at 23-22. Serving tied at 24 apiece, Emery got a side out when Betts’ attempted lob to the open spot on the floor didn’t quite make it over the net. The Spartans scored the next point to take the set 26-24 and clinch the match.

Grand senior libero Cammy Beeman said communication and togetherness are keys to the Lady Red Devils being successful and holding on to leads.

“We’ve got to get our hits down, stay together as a team better,” she said.

For Beeman and the other three seniors on the team (Betts, Kesley Backus and Lexi Risenhoover), it was a night of mixed emotions as the seniors were honored prior to the game.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Beeman said. “I’m sad, but excited at the same time.”

The Lady Red Devils are next scheduled to play at Wasatch Academy on Thursday, Oct. 9, before immediately heading to Richfield for the Sevier Valley Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10 and 11. They’re scheduled to wrap up their home slate against San Juan in a region matchup on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m., and Monticello in non-region competition on Thursday, Oct. 16 with a 3 p.m. C-Team start time with JV and varsity to start immediately after since Grand is also hosting a varsity football game on Oct. 16. The Lady Red Devils finish the regular season with road games the following weekend against North Sevier on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m., and South Sevier on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 3:30 p.m.

Emery plays homecoming spoiler as Grand squanders late-set leads

We’ve got to get our hits down, stay together as a team better.

What: Lady Red Devil Volleyball

When: Versus San Juan, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Versus Monticello, Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.

Where: Grand County High School, 608 S. 400 East