The Silver State Volleyball Club's 17 and gold team came tantalizingly close to making the finals of the United States Junior Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Playing in the 17 and under division, Silver State advanced to the semifinals on Wednesday, becoming the first Northern Nevada team ever to medal at nationals. Silver State coach Steve George also said that Douglas High's Emily Haas will be named as a USA Junior National All-American, another first for a Northern Nevada player.
In the semifinals, Silver State had five match points before falling to the Milwaukee (Wis.) Sting 16-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-16, 17-19.
"A heartbreaker," George said. "We just couldn't get the one big play.
"We just couldn't quite get the one point. But we were that close."
Silver State was able to pull out a close match to advance to the semifinals, beating Pikes Peak, Colo. in the quarterfinals 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 16-14. George had said Pikes Peak was arguably playing the best volleyball of the tournament heading into that match.
George said his team was disappointed after the semifinals, but that he told his players, "You should be real proud of yourselves."
"I've never been more proud of a team in all the years I've coached," said George, who has coached four national champions.
George also said his team put Northern Nevada volleyball on the map.
"Nobody will ask any more who the heck is Silver State," he said. "I'm elated for what they did in the tournament. It was something I believe they could do the whole time."
Other members of the team were: Carson's Rachael DeRiemer, Alyssa Wilson and Shannon Devereaux; Douglas High's Brittany Addeo and Michele Paterson; Galena's Joanna Hixon; Fallon's Tristin Adams and Carly Sorensen; and North Tahoe's Teal Ericson.
