4A SUNRISE VOLLEYBALL: Silverado rolls past Green Valley for region title

The Silverado girls volleyball team was looking for a measure of revenge against Green Valley on Saturday.

The Skyhawks got it, along with a region title and a berth at state.

Silverado dominated from the start and rolled to a 25-12, 25-19, 25-22 victory over the Gators in the Class 4A Sunrise Region title match at Coronado.

“The girls just came ready to play,” Silverado coach Eric Drum said. “Green Valley’s a really good team, and our team really got up for it.”

That was partially because of Green Valley’s 3-2 win over the Skyhawks on Oct. 26.

“I think it was a big motivating factor,” senior outside hitter MacKenzie Carter said of the regular-season loss to the Gators. “So it was really good to kind of give them what they deserve.”

The outcome was never in doubt, as Silverado (30-7) took a 6-1 lead in the opening set and never trailed. Kaylynn Smith served two aces to help the Skyhawks close out the match on a 5-0 run.

The second set was far tighter, and the Gators (26-8) led 16-14. But a kill by Carter started a 6-0 run that helped the Skyhawks take control.

Carter had four kills in the second set to help ignite Silverado.

“We were passing really well,” Carter said. “Our offense was putting every ball away that we should have put away.”

Silveado took a 18-10 lead in the third set and it appeared the match was about over before an 11-3 run tied the score at 21. But Sydney Berenyi had two kills, including the match clincher, as the Skyhawks put the match away to claim their first region title since 2008.

Berenyi had 14 kills and 12 digs, and Carter had nine kills, 12 digs and two aces to lead Silverado.

“I’m so lucky to have those two, MacKenzie Carter and Sydney Berenyi,” Drum said. “With those two I’ve got two of the better outside hitters in the valley, for sure.”

Lydia Goebel added six kills, two blocks and two aces, and teammate Tehani Faitau had 26 assists, nine digs and three aces for the Skyhawks.

Rachel Klopfer had nine kills and 14 digs to lead Green Valley. Anya Olsen added seven kills and eight digs, and Abigail Olsen had 22 assists and 11 digs for the Gators.

Silverado plays Reno in the state semifinals at 7:15 p.m. on Friday. The Skyhawks haven’t been to state since winning the championship in 2009.

“I never expected this at the beginning of the season, so to have it right now is just a really good feeling,” Carter said.