Lady Broncos wrap up region championship in past week, ride a five-game winning streak into state tournament

The San Juan High School volleyball team swept Kanab and Valley on the road this past Thursday and Friday, October 15-16 to finish their regular season with a five-game winning streak.

The Lady Broncos won 19 of their last 20 matches of the season, are the undefeated Region 18 Champions, and with their 23-5 overall record have earned the #2 seed in the 2A Utah Volleyball State Tournament which will be played this weekend at Utah Valley University.

San Juan will enjoy a bye in the first round and could see a familiar foe in the second round. They’ll take on the winner of the APA West Valley and Grand County game at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 23.

The Lady Broncos claimed the Region 18 Championship on Thursday, October 15, sweeping Kanab in three straight sets 25-20, 25-21, and 25-11 to cap an undefeated run through region play.

Not only did San Juan go undefeated against region opponents this season, they surrendered just one set all season in region competition. Winning a region championship is a tremendous accomplishment for any team, but doing so without a region loss while dropping just one set puts this squad in a category of its own.

SkyAnn Palmer, in her second season as head coach, has guided the Lady Broncos throughout the season alongside assistant coaches Bodell Imlay and Ta’ssi Su’esu’e.

San Juan entered the season hungry after earning a third-place finish in the 2025 state tournament, and that determination has been evident on the court.

Anyone who has attended a home match this season has witnessed the Lady Broncos’ dominance firsthand. As their shirts proudly declare, “Everyone Watches San Juan Volleyball.”

Sophomore Faith Flannery has been a major offensive force for San Juan. She is the team’s leading hitter, averaging 4.9 kills per set with a .272 hitting percentage. She ends the regular season with 459 kills which ranks second in the state.

Flannery continued to make her presence felt in the October 15 sweep of Kanab, finishing with 18 kills and four digs. Her powerful outside hitting has consistently challenged opposing defenses and helped San Juan put points on the board.

Freshman Emri Black also delivered a standout performance against Kanab, recording seven serving aces, six kills, and five digs. Her ability to contribute from the service line and in the front row gives the Lady Broncos another important offensive weapon.

Junior Olivia Nielson has played a vital role in directing the offense as the team’s leading setter. Her ability to distribute the ball and create opportunities for San Juan’s hitters has been a key component of the Broncos’ success. Nielson’s 713 assists this season ranks tenth among Utah players.

Senior Adi Ivins has been a force on both sides of the ball. She leads the team with 51 serving aces and 290 digs and has applied pressure from the service line all season while helping keep rallies alive defensively.

At the net, senior Havoc Laws has made her presence known. Her 52 blocks have challenged opposing hitters and helped San Juan control the action at the net. Fellow senior Taya Chamberlain has also contributed to the Lady Broncos’ defensive effort, recording 33 blocks on the season.

Junior Aspyn Ivins has provided another important piece of the San Juan defensive foundation, leading the team in serve receptions in the available statistical comparison.

The team’s blocking strength has been key in their success during region play. Four Lady Broncos are among the top ten in the Region 18 ranks, including Havoc Laws in second with 52 blocks, Taya Chamberlain fifth with 33, Emri Black sixth with 30, and Olivia Nielson ninth with 27.

While individual statistics highlight the talent on the roster, San Juan’s success reflects a team that understands its roles, embraces teamwork, and works toward a common goal.

Freshmen Emri Black and Bryir Palmer have both earned valuable varsity playing time this season, showcasing their abilities and gaining experience that should benefit the Lady Broncos in the years ahead.

Juniors Hadley Palmer, Sloan Middleton, and Brinkley Knight, along with sophomore Kyliea Taylor, have also stepped up throughout the season, contributing to the team’s success and helping San Juan secure the region title.

San Juan continued its winning ways after capturing the region title, traveling to Valley on Friday, October 16, and earning another straight-sets victory 25-14, 25-18, and 25-19.

In the first two weeks of October San Juan picked up wins over Enterprise, Parowan, and Richfield before beating Snow Canyon, Roy, and Rich at the Salem Hills Round Robin in Salem, UT October 9-10.

Their only loss in the last 20 games of the regular season came against Cedar in that tournament. The Lady Reds are currently sixth in the Utah 4A with a 19-7 record.

The victories over Roy and Rich and the five-set win over Snow Canyon in Salem showed the Lady Broncos’ ability to win both comfortably and under pressure, while their latest sweeps of Kanab and Valley demonstrated the team’s continued momentum.

For a team that finished third at state a year ago, the region championship is only one step toward an even bigger goal. The San Juan girls now turn their attention to the state tournament and the opportunity to bring home an even bigger prize—a state championship trophy.