By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]

Corner Canyon’s volleyball team battled through the challenges that COVID-quarantining brought for individual players and eventually the entire program and finished third among its tough Region 4 opponents to enter the 6A state tournament. 

The Chargers ended up with an RPI seed of eight, which was lower than expected, according to head coach Melinda Ricks heading into the postseason. After a first-round bye, Corner Canyon swept Hunter 25-10, 25-14, 25-11 Nov. 4 before facing the top team —and eventual state champion—Lone Peak in the quarterfinals and losing 25-19, 27-25, 16-25, 25-18. “It was a tough match and we battled but ended up losing in four sets,” Ricks said. “We were definitely one of the top teams in 6A volleyball this year.”

Senior setter Halle Richards said the team’s 23-7 season was “awesome.” “While we were in quarantine we still stayed strong and played the best volleyball Corner Canyon has seen. We just wish we could have beat Lone Peak so that title could be ours,” Richards said.

Ricks credited her seven seniors—Emilee Anselmo, Baylee Bodily, Karen Crapo, Kylie Johnson, Brooklyn Leggett, Breauna Nez and Richards—for the team effort it took this season. “They’ve all been playing Charger volleyball from the time they were little in our bantam program all throughout high school. It’s absolutely awesome to have kids being able to grow up together playing a sport they love all the way through their senior year,” Ricks said. “This was a special group of seniors who are complete friends who play for each other with no drama. I loved having the opportunity to coach them.”

Leggett also noted the team’s strong chemistry that they have built over the years. “We have all learned so much from each other and we are an awesome team together,” she said. “We have great passers, as well as really heavy hitters and worked so hard to improve.”

“We had such a strong senior class with great blockers and hitters,” Bodily said.

Leggett, Bodily and Richards were named to the AVCA Under Armour All-American Watch list and the three helped lead the offense in kills, aces and assists while Johnson’s 297 digs were tops for the Chargers’ defense. Bodily will play for Weber State next season while Leggett just signed with Colorado Mesa.

Also on the Chargers squad this year were Kenlee Burt, Jada Clayton, Isabel Crofts, Lily Crofts, Ashley McDonald, Ellie Mortensen, Brinn Nichols, Mia Palmer and Mia Smith.

“I’m just so proud of the volleyball girls this season,” Ricks said. “It was unlike any other season. The girls learned to play through the challenges, to be mentally tough, to control the controllable, and adjust as things came up. These girls are amazing examples to me of finding the good in everything.”