PREP VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS:

Skyhawks bump Gators in 4 for regional title

Richard Brian

Silverado’s girls’ volleyball team celebrate its victory over Green Valley after the Sunrise Regional volleyball tournament at Centennial High on Friday.

By Brent Hinckley (contact)

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 | midnight

Regional Volleyball Tournament

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Silverado's girls' volleyball team is getting used to storming the court in celebration.

The defending large-school state champions advanced to this year's event by topping neighborhood rival Green Valley High 3-1 on Friday night in the Sunrise Regional championship game.

The win pushes the Skyhawks into the state tournament, which will be played next Friday and Saturday at Damonte Ranch High in Reno.

"It's amazing. We've worked so hard and it paid off," Silverado senior outside hitter Patti Flagg said.

Silverado dropped the first game against Green Valley 25-17, then swept the next three games — 25-18, 25-14 and 26-24 — for the title.

"I'm beyond excited. The girls played well tonight," Silverado coach Jenn Boeddeker said.

Flagg said the match against Green Valley will help prepare her team for state.

"Green Valley's great competition. They've worked really hard and have a great team," Flagg said.

Green Valley, which beat Silverado in three games Oct. 30 to win the Southeast Division title, opened the match by going on a 10-2 run to capture the first set and appeared primed for another victory.

"The girls were given an opportunity to get the jitters out. I think having all the support from the school that we did really helped in building confidence," Boeddeker said.

Silverado answered by leading 7-2 in the second game and never trailed. The Skyhawks led by as many as eight points at 21-13 and won 25-18 to square the match.

"We were upset they beat us and wanted it back," Flagg said. "We did not want to end the season on a bad note. "

Flagg, one of Silverado's two seniors starters, had 17 kills, three aces and 11 digs. Junior outside hitter Taylor Richard led the team with 20 kills, and added 10 digs and two aces.

The Skyhawks used an 8-0 run in the third game to pull out a 25-14 win and take a 2-1.

Green Valley fought back in the fourth game and led 19-14, before the Skyhawks went on a 10-2 run to take a 24-21 lead. The Gators tied the game at 24, but Silverado scored the final two points to win the match.

"Silverado was on their game," Green Valley coach Erin Hill said. "We were as prepared as we could be and we came up short. It's been a great season."

Silverado faces the winner of Saturday's Northern Region final between Bishop Manogue and Reno High in the state semifinals.

Brent Hinckley can be reached at 990-2687 or brent.hinckley@hbcpub.com.