Legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden once said it's not how you start, it's how you finish.
With that in mind, the Galena and Douglas volleyball teams must like how they've been playing heading into the finish of the season. Both teams will be in action today at the NIAA/U.S. Bank State 4A Championships being hosted by Galena.
Douglas will face Centennial at 2 p.m. while Galena will host Green Valley at 4 p.m. In other first round matches, Durango will face Silverado at 6 p.m. and defending state champion Fallon will face Valley at 8 p.m. The semifinals will be held Friday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. and the state championship game will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday.
For a while, the state tournament may have looked like who was going to play for second behind Fallon. But there may now some chinks in the Green Wave's armor.
In last week's Northern Nevada 4A Finals, Fallon lost a game for the first time this year to a Northern Nevada school as Douglas took the Green Wave to four games.
Douglas Coach Scott Akimoto said his team's performance against Fallon has boosted its confidence.
"We made them think about a lot of things," said Akimoto about taking a game from Fallon. "When we won that game, they were pretty scared. They're still the best team out there."
The Tigers are in their 10th straight state tournament. "One goal made as far as making it," Akimoto said.
"The next goal now is trying to win the dang thing. The kids are playing well right now. I'm pretty happy with this group."
Galena lost its first two matches against Carson and Douglas. But Galena has come on strong, beating Carson in the Northern Nevada third place match to qualify for state. The Grizzlies have also beating Green Valley and Silverado this year.
"Both teams have probably gotten better," said Galena Coach Teresa Burrows about Green Valley and Silverado.
"They've always had good ball control," Burrows also said about Green Valley. "It's not going to be easy."
Douglas has only one senior and returning starter in setted Jamie McCreary, who is averaging 22.8 assists a contest. "She's been huge for us this year," Akimoto said.
Carson Coach Daryl James said McCreary is arguably the best setter in Northern Nevada. He said McCreary's the "glue' of the team and said she's like a coach on the floor.
"She's the spark," James said. " She's the one who's level headed and holds them together."
Galena also has a marquee player in outside hitter Kellie Burton, who has signed a letter of intent with Arizona, one of the nation's top programs.
But the Grizzlies don't just rely on Burton. They have a balanced attack behind setter Lauren Wallace, who had 49 assists in last week's win against Carson.
"When Lauren runs a more balanced attack, we seem to be more successful," said Burrows, who also said her team has been playing well defensively.
Other key players for Galena are outside hitter Tammie Nettleton, middle blockers Ashley Satterwhile and Seslee Howell, right side hitter Joanna Hixon and defensive specialists Teresa Miller and Stacy Scheiberl.
Rounding out the Tigers' lineup are defensive specialist Tess Sheridan, sophomore middle blocker Emily Haas, middle blocker Megan Brinkmeyer, outside hitter Chelsey Myers and opposite side hitter Jencie LeJeune.
With a young team, Akimoto said he's pleased to have come this far. "It's a pretty amazing group when you think about it," he said.
Charles Whisnand is the Nevada Appeal Sports Editor. He can be reached via e-mail at appeal@swiftnews.com.
