Utah Catholic schools wrap up girls volleyball; Judge Memorial's football season ends at state

Friday, Nov. 13, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — The three Utah Catholic high schools each played well in regional volleyball competition in their designated classifications, with St. Joseph and Juan Diego advancing to the state playoffs. Meanwhile,  the Judge Memorial Catholic High School football team advanced to the state playoffs, but lost in the opening round.

Saint Joseph CHS 

The 1A Jayhawks girls volleyball team placed third in Region 18 and advanced to the state playoffs held at Utah Valley University, where they placed 8th. 

Cindy White, in her first year as head coach after serving as an assistant coach, said the season was unusual. Only three players returned to the team: a senior, a junior and a sophomore. 

“We had 12 new players that were also new to the school,” she said. “I had three freshmen starters on the varsity team who had never played before; they had a big learning curve just transitioning into high school. The team was committed from the first day and our goal was to work hard and to get to state. By the last half of the season, our chemistry started clicking and we started winning.” 

SJCHS junior Kathleen Tomon led the Jayhawks with 235 kills (a spike or tip), 51 blocks and 188 assists; junior Natalie Williams had 306 digs and 65 ace serves; and senior Elisabeth Schmeling “was our setter, who led the team in offense; she had 186 assists,” said White.

Juan Diego CHS

The Soaring Eagle girls volleyball team placed 3rd in 3A Region 11 and qualified for state for the first time in three years. 

“We played in a tough region, including Morgan High School, who became the state champions,” said Stephanie Jones, head coach. 

JDCHS lost in the first round in “a disappointing match with Stansbury High School, then beat Canyon View High School in five sets that night to move onto the third round,” said Jones. “The next morning we lost in five sets to North Sanpete High School.”

JDCHS will lose seven seniors this year, “but we have some very promising juniors and underclassmen,” said Jones. “The girls worked extremely hard and are embracing the challenge of the new region and becoming a more competitive program.” 

Judge Memorial CHS 

The Bulldogs girls volleyball team finished 5th in 4A Region 6, missing the state tournament by one place. At the end of region play the Bulldogs were in a three-way tie and needed to win their last match to make the state playoffs. 

“We lost against Murray High School, who finished in second place,” said Eric Howard, in his first year as head coach. “We were focused and knew what we had to do against a team with eight seniors; it didn’t go our way, but our juniors and sophomores gained experience playing under pressure. It’s a little disheartening because this is the first time in four years we haven’t gone to state.”

Howard had been an assistant coach and replaced his wife, Kristy Howard, as head coach. Kristy Howard now coaches the JMCHS junior varsity volleyball team. Eric Howard also coaches the sophomore team. 

The couple met through volleyball while they were both playing at Salt Lake Community College; Eric Howard played in the Men’s Mountain West Collegiate Conference and Kristy Howard played volleyball for the University of Houston. 

On the gridiron, the JMCHS football team ended the regular season in a three-way tie for third place in the region with Bear River and Park City high schools. 

In the opening round of the state football playoffs, the Bulldogs lost to Cedar City. 

“It was a very frustrating game for us,” said James Cordova, head football coach. 

The Bulldogs had a tough season, with a lot of injuries, Cordova said. 

“Other than our first game of the season, we were never at full strength; we lost six starters during the season and that took a lot out of us,” he said. “We had to shift our offense around and a lot of guys were playing out of position. They were a great group to coach and took everything in stride; the season outcome doesn’t match the joy we all got out of playing.”