Silver State Volleyball upsets nationally ranked team

The Silver State 17-Gold volleyball club recenlty finished third in the High Rollers Tournament in Sacramento.

During the tournament, the team defeated on of the nation's top 18s division team and finished 7-2 in the three-day event, which was a tuneup for the United States Junior Olympic Championships. Silver State will compete in the national championships to be held June 30-July 3 in Salt Lake City.

After going 3-0 on the first day, Silver State, comprised of players who just completed their junior and senior years, were placed in a pool with two of the nation's 18s division clubs: San Jose's City Beach and Stockton's Delta Valley. Silver State pulled off a stunning upset when it beat Delta Valley and then took City Beach to the limit before losing the first game 28-30 and went on to lose the match.

Silver State finished pool play by beating the Delta Valley 17s, one of Northern California's top 17s division teams, to finish second in its pool.

In the single elimination playoffs, Silver State won its first two matches before facing the Delta Valley 18s in a rematch in the semifinals. After jumping out to a 23-19 lead in the game, Silver State fell 26-28, 22-25.

"We could not have had a better tuneup for the national championships in two weeks," coach Steve George said. "I certainly hope this is an indication that the team is peaking at the right time. I am confident that if we maintain our composure, determination and focus on our team goals that we will make Northern Nevada very proud whe we compete at the U.S. Junior Olympics."

Silver State earned one of only 28 bids to the national Junior Olympics. Team members are: Carson High's Rachael DeRiemer, Shannon Devereaux and Alyssa Wilson; Douglas High's Brittany Adeo, Emily Haas and Michele Paterson; Galena's Joanna Hixon; North Tahoe's Teal Ericson; and Fallon's Tristin Adams and Carly Sorensen.