4A STATE: Green Valley wins marathon game, faces rematch with Silverado
In her 19 years with Green Valley’s girls volleyball team, Erin Hill had never coached a game that went to 40 points.
Siga Appelgate made sure the first would be a happy memory.
Green Valley rode the momentum of a dramatic finish in the second game to a 25-21, 40-38, 25-17 sweep of Reno in a Class 4A state semifinal Friday night at Silverado.
“It was intense,” said Appelgate, who had eight kills amid the Gators’ final 13 points in the second game. “We had so much fire and just pushed every single point.”
Green Valley (30-6) will play for its first state title since 2001 against rival Silverado (31-7) at 4 p.m. today at Silverado.
Appelgate, a senior outside hitter who has signed with Pacific, had 27 kills and five digs.
Green Valley faced 12 game-point opportunities in the second game before Appelgate ended it with a kill.
“That second game was awesome, absolutely outstanding,” Hill said. “It was a battle back-and-forth from about 24-all. It was like two games in one.”
Emma Johnson had nine kills, six digs and two aces for the Gators. Jena Chavez dished out 33 assists, and Taylor Seidler supplied 13 digs.
Green Valley showed no signs of fatigue in the third game, sprinting to a 15-6 lead.
“What we always say is, 'We’re the hardest-working team,’” Appelgate said. “If we put in extra, we get out extra.”
Lauren Bradley led Reno (18-6) with 32 assists, 11 digs, three kills and three aces.
Samantha O’Connell contributed 10 digs, seven kills and two aces for the Huskies. Aubrey Mitchell added eight kills and seven blocks, and Kendall Burchard had eight kills and six blocks.
Green Valley will carry a four-match win streak into the state final.
“It’ll take passing, serving, defense; just what it’s been taking,” Hill said.
Silverado 3, Bishop Gorman 0 — Taylor Richard had 19 kills to lead the Skyhawks to a 25-13, 25-16, 25-11 sweep of the Gaels (26-4).
Marilyn Agae dished out 26 assists, Kaitlyn Keathley had 11 digs and Kayla Agae added seven kills for the Skyhawks.
“I certainly didn’t feel like it was easy,” Silverado coach Jennifer Boeddeker said. “Gorman is a great team, and they were obviously here for a reason.
“We played very well, and I’m pleased with what they did today.”
Kylie Shaw had seven kills and Liz Manthei added five for Gorman. Kylee Chun tallied 17 assists.
Silverado has swept Palo Verde and Gorman since losing 3-2 to Green Valley in the Sunrise Region final Nov. 6.
“We wanted to make sure we came back,” Boeddeker said. “I think that we’ve come together as a team right now.”
