Good as Gold: volleyball team places high

RENO, Nev. — Heidi Smith of Moses Lake High School was part of the North Central Washington Volleyball Club's 16-and-under Gold team that completed a successful trip to the Volleyball Festival, the world's largest annual sporting event.

Smith, a 5-foot-5 defensive specialist who just completed her sophomore year at Moses Lake, helped the Gold finish in fourth place in the Silver Division and 20th out of 187 teams in the 16-and-under bracket. The tournament took place July 2-6.

The Gold, coached by Lygay Jaeger, is one of three 16-and-under teams under the North Central Washington Volleyball's Club's guidance. Smith is the only Columbia Basin area player on the squad, which holds its practice in the Wenatchee area.

Most of the Gold's 11 players will be entering their junior year of high school this fall. Other players include middle blockers Shade McKay and Claire Eberle, and outside hitter Lindsay McMillan, all of Wenatchee High School; right-side hitter Molly Mayer, outside hitter Katlen Freimuth and middle blocker Carissa Senkler, all of Eastmont; Grandview outside hitter Sydney Mottice, Cle Elum setter Taylor Rico, East Valley-Yakima defensive specialist Lindsay Bronkhorst and Waterville setter Laney Brown.

The Gold began its season in January and has been very successful, placing first at tournaments in Wenatchee and Ephrata. The team was third at events in Kirkland, Yakima and Spokane, and fifth at three other events.

The Volleyball Festival began in 1984 and has held an all-girls tournament since 1986. This year's competition took place on 114 courts at 12 separate arenas and gymnasiums throughout the Reno area. The festival has grown from 120 teams in 1985 to more than 700 this summer.