The Willow Glen Resident

Quicksilver qualifies for volleyball Jr. Nationals

By Dick Sparrer

School's out, and it's summer vaction for high school athletes throughout the area.

It's time for suntanning, vacationing and sleeping in on weekday mornings.

At least, it is for most high school athletes. But not for those who compete for the Quicksilver-18 Aloha girls' volleyball team. They're too busy playing volleyball.

Volleyball, though, will give the Quicksilver girls an opportunity to take a summer vacation, because the under-18 squad has qualified for the Junior National tournament set for June 24-30 at the Dallas Convention Center in Texas.

"It's the biggest volleyball tournament ever played under one roof," said Quicksilver volleyball director Phil Beltran. "There will be 64 teams playing on 52 courts."

In all, there will be 6,000 boys and girls participating in the tournament, formerly known as the Junior Olympics. Quicksilver is one of four teams from Northern California competing in the event.

Local stars Lisa Sunseri, a senior at Presentation, and Mitty juniors Annie Beltran and Caitlin Kearney, both residents of Willow Glen, are members of the team that will head to Dallas later this month.

There are 11 players on the squad, including players from Presentation, Mitty, Mountain View, Leland, Mission San Jose, Leigh, Washington and Menlo-Atherton high schools. Sarah Cannon of Leigh is another local player on the club coached by Randy Ranoa and Vicki McClenahan.

Quicksilver qualified for the Junior Nationals by placing fifth in the Southern California Junior Nationals.

"It was really tough," said Beltran. "They beat teams from Colorado and Arizona, and a real powerhouse--the Cal Juniors out of Marina.

"Our goal has always been to get to the Junior Nationals," added Beltran. Now Quicksilver is there.

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