By Josh McFadden | [email protected] 

Volleyball is the final fall sport to get underway in the high school ranks, but it hasn’t taken the Bingham Miners to get up to speed.

Bingham has fared well against in-state competition as Region 4 play looms. At press time, the Miners were 6-4 overall, with all four losses coming during a tournament played in California Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. 

Otherwise, the Miners have controlled opponents. Bingham scored a season-opening 3-0 sweep over Judge Memorial on Aug. 23. None of the three sets were closer than 25-14. Five days later, the Miners were in a closer match but still prevailed at Fremont 3-2, winning sets one, four and five. Bingham also easily defeated Skyline 3-0 at home on Sept. 6. 

In between those three matches, the Miners participated in the huge Dave Mohs Tournament in California where they faced seven teams from the Golden State in a two-day span. After falling to Santa Margarita 2-1 in the first match, Bingham reeled off three straight wins. The Miners defeated El Dorado 2-1, Santa Fe Christian 2-0 and Murrieta Valley 2-0. 

The final three games were a different story, as the talented California opposition overcame the Miners. Bingham stood tall but could prevail in losses to Mira Costa (2-1), Corona Del Mar (2-1) and Huntington Beach (2-0).

Now, the most important part of the regular season is here. 

Bingham began Region 4 play with a 3-0 sweep at American Fork on Sept. 18 before doing the same to Westlake on Sept. 20. The Miners will play each league foe twice, culminating with an Oct. 25 game at Lone Peak. Sprinkled in with the region slate is a non-league match at Timpview on Sept. 25. Along with American Fork and Lone Peak, Bingham will contend with Pleasant Grove and Westlake for region supremacy. 

Last season, the Miners placed third in Region 4 with a 4-4 record and went 18-7 overall. Despite an up-and-down season, Bingham did manage to win a pair of sate tournament games, eventually falling in the third-place match to American Fork 3-2.

The Miners last won a region title in 2016 as members of Class 5A’s Region 3 when they shared the championship with Brighton.