Silverado answers wake-up call, wins

That happened Nov. 6, after the Skyhawks lost the Sunrise Region title game to Green Valley.

Silverado fell into a do-or-die Monday play-in game for a berth to the Class 4A state tournament. Richard, Silverado’s star senior outside hitter, told her teammates they weren’t talking on the court and lacked the strong chemistry she spoke so highly of before the season.

Richard’s heart-to-heart straightened out the Skyhawks, who fulfilled lofty expectations Saturday on their home court by defeating the Gators 22-25, 25-12, 25-14, 25-20 to win their second state championship in the past three years.

Starting with that play-in game against Palo Verde, Richard could feel a renewed spirit in the Silverado squad. "We got so much of our energy back," she said.

Silverado coach Jenn Boeddeker said having to play its way into state also helped to wake up a squad whose starting middle blocker, Kaitlin Keathley, called Silverado "the team to beat" in the preseason.

"The regional match gave us a chance to refocus and remember what we pushed so hard for," Boeddeker said. "When you work toward a common goal and someone starts to take that away from you, you fight for it."

Reaching that goal looked tenuous early against the Gators, who rode another great hitting show by Siga Appelgate to an opening-game win. Rather than tighten up like they did against Green Valley last week, the Skyhawks joked around and stayed loose before the second game.

They carried that attitude onto the court, and Richard put it into action with four kills and stellar defense. Richard blasted an outside set through a triple block to up Silverado’s lead to 20-7 as the Skyhawks easily took the second game.

"In Game 2, we lacked the intensity that we need, and it cost us," Gators coach Erin Hill said.

Appelgate came out blasting with five kills in the third game, but the Gators struggled to keep their serves in, and Silverado forced many Green Valley errors to win that one, as well.

"We were refusing to lose," Richard said. "We weren’t going to lose. We had so much heart, and it showed out there the last three games."

Boeddeker credited Richard’s growth as a team leader this year for helping Silverado through its roughest spots.

"Because of her leadership and her resolve to keep the girls on track, that’s why we’re here," Boeddeker said.

Richard recorded 19 kills to pace the Skyhawks. Freshman Kayla Agae notched seven kills, and Marilyn Agae gave out 30 assists.

Appelgate finished with 26 kills and Jena Chavez 29 assists for Green Valley.

CLASS 2A

Laura Walsh and Kathryn Chakmak combined for 19 kills as The Meadows defeated Whittell 25-22, 25-19, 12-25, 25-17 for the school’s first state volleyball title since 2002.

The Meadows also ended Whittell’s streak of six straight Class 2A state titles.

Walsh said her team never worried when it hit rough patches against the Warriors. "I think we played in control," she said.

With Walsh (nine kills) swinging well from the outside and Chakmak (10 kills) keeping the Whittell block honest in the middle, the Mustangs cruised through the first two games.

"Our passing, we’ve worked on all season because it’s been our weak point in past years," Walsh said. "We have a really outstanding libero (Kristyna Fong) that we love to brag about."

CLASS 1A

Pahranagat Valley was two points from elimination before rallying for a 25-22, 17-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-6 victory for the 13th state title in team history.

The Panthers were down two games to one and trailing 23-21 in the fourth game before escaping and then blistering Lake Mead in the fifth game.

"We made (up) our minds that we weren’t going to quit, no matter what the score was," Panthers coach Ginger Whipple said.

Pahranagat Valley lost twice to Lake Mead this season, including a three-game defeat in last week’s 1A Southern Region title game.

Halle Lewis had 14 kills and Kyla Mortensen seven for the Panthers.

Ashley Newton (21 kills), Jocelyn Cox (33 assists) and Amanda Wellman (eight aces) led Lake Mead, but the Eagles couldn’t come up with the big play when they needed one.

"We never could get the offense going today," Lake Mead coach Diana Lewis said. "One mistake after one mistake — it just couldn’t happen for us today."