Local volleyball teams continue to roll along nearing season midpoint

by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The Monument Valley High School volleyball team is the top-ranked team in the first release of the 2023 Utah High School Activities Association 1A RPI standings.
Of course it’s still very early, but the Lady Cougars are the only undefeated team in the classification. In their first two games of the season they defeated Newcomb, NM in four sets on August 29 and Pinnacle Academy in straight sets on September 1.
The #2 team in the 1A standings, Panguitch, has a 10-4 record so far. Third-ranked Escalante is 8-1 and #4 Rich has seven wins and five losses.
The RPI system ranks teams mathematically based on a wins and losses formula and does not incorporate strength of schedule or any other outside factors.
Monument Valley was set for two more Region 19 matches when the week began. They traveled to face rival Whitehorse in the Battle of the Drum on Tuesday, September 12, too late for the San Juan Record print deadline. Green River will pay a visit to the Lady Cougars on Thursday, September 14.
Monticello, ranked seventh in the initial 1A standings, has four wins and eight losses so far this season. The past week was a bit of a struggle with a 3-2 loss to Grand County on Tuesday, September 5 and a straight-sets loss to Dove Creek on Thursday, September 7.
The Lady Buckaroos were looking to get back in the win column against Pinnacle Academy on Tuesday, September 12 on the road. They’ll close out this week at home against Montezuma-Cortez on Friday, September 15.
Whitehorse sits 14th in the early-season 1A RPI standings with a 1-4 record. They picked up their first win of the season over Pinnacle Academy in four sets on Saturday, September 9.
As stated, the Lady Raiders hosted Monument Valley on Tuesday, September 12. They’ll close out their week at a tournament in Shiprock, NM Friday and Saturday, September 15-16.
And in the 2A ranks, San Juan suffered straight-sets losses to North Sevier and North Summit to open the past week on September 5 and 8, but bounced back to sweep Duchesne on Saturday, September 9. All three matches were on the road this past week.
In the initial 2A RPI standings the Lady Broncos are tenth with a 6-5 record. They’ll rematch North Summit and North Sevier in the SJHS gym this Friday and Saturday, September 15-16.