San Juan volleyball splits games

The San Juan High School volleyball team was initially ranked #17 when the final 3A Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) RPI standings came out this past week.

But when Grand County had their season cut short by COVID-19, the Lady Broncos moved up to #16 in the standings. Other than eliminating their final regular season match scheduled against Grand, the change didn’t affect their fate much.

By virtue of the #16 ranking, they were still set to play in one of two play-in games at Union High School in Roosevelt, UT Saturday, October 24 to open the 2020 state tournament.

San Juan’s opponent was the American Leadership Academy Lady Eagles. The Lady Broncos dominated from the start, dominating ALA in straight sets 25-12, 25-8, and 25-9.

A win was nice for first-year head coach Marci Black’s squad, but unfortunately they had earned a date with the host team, the #1 Union Lady Cougars.

The Lady Broncos were looking for a big upset to earn a spot in the state quarterfinals at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield, but Union flipped the tables on San Juan, sweeping 25-8, 25-11, and 25-18.

San Juan ends the year with a 7-19 record. They struggled in Region 12, going 0-9.

It was a young team. Of eight players who saw most of the varsity action, only two will graduate. Coach Black will have added experience next season.

San Juan was led in the serving game this year by senior Jerika Torgerson, with an impressive 2.18 service rating. In addition, she served 93.8 percent.

Sophomore Avina Cordova was right behind with a 2.13 rating. She bested Torgerson, with a 94.7 serve percentage for the year.

Junior Maycee Conway served a 2.04 rating for the year with an 89.8 percentage, junior Bailey Brown was 1.99 and 86.5 percent respectively, sophomore Kaeahliyah Howard was 1.94 and 88.5 percent, and senior Sadie Brown was 1.84 and 83.8 percentage.

Torgerson and Bailey Brown co-led the Lady Broncos with 37 aces apiece this season. Sadie Brown hit 34, Cordova got 28, Howard hit 25, and Conway had 13.

Top San Juan returners for 2020 are Torgerson with a 1.88 rating, Sadie Brown with 1.74, Bailey Brown with 1.50, Howard with 1.49, and Conway with 1.46.

Torgerson also led the way for the Lady Broncos in kills with 372. Sophomore Kinley Noyes had 142, Sadie Brown got 102, Bailey Brown 91, and Macy Jacobsen 75.

Torgerson led the team in blocks this season also, with 68. Jacobsen had 39, Bailey Brown got 31, junior Halli Palmer had 19, Noyes collected 17, and Sadie Brown got 16.

Torgerson had 293 digs for San Juan. Bailey Brown got 286, Sadie Brown had 285, Cordova had 150, and Howard got 130.

Bailey Brown collected 381 assists for the Lady Broncos. Cordova had 228 helpers, Palmer 82, Sadie Brown 25, and Torgerson 18.

After the conclusion of the season Coach Black said, “Even though it was not the ending we hoped for, I was really proud of the girls and the way they finished the season.”

She said coaches and players are grateful they had a chance to compete in the state tournament, pointing out some teams didn’t get that luxury when their seasons were cut short by COVID-19.

Black said one team goal going into the state tournament was to “leave it all out on the court, play with heart, and have no regrets.” They did exactly that.

“They kept good attitudes and played hard until the very end,” Black explained. “I couldn’t be more proud of them. They can walk away with their heads held high knowing they gave it their all.

“As coaches we are proud of the progress they made this year and look forward to the progress they will make in the future.”