Nevada
Boys volleyball playoff preview: 5A state title up for grabs
Class 5A boys volleyball teams enter the state tournament with a fair amount of knowledge about their opponents.
Most of the top teams have played each other at least once, whether going through the rigors of league play or facing off in tournaments.
And if those regular-season results revealed anything, it’s that the 5A state title is truly up for grabs.
The boys volleyball playoffs begin Monday with 4A state first-round matchups. The 5A and 3A playoffs begin with state quarterfinals Tuesday.
Here’s a breakdown of how the playoffs shape up:
Class 5A
League champions: Green Valley (Desert), Coronado (Mountain)
The favorite: Coronado
Coronado emerged as the league champion out of the challenging Mountain League on a tiebreaker over Palo Verde. Outside hitters Dexter Brimhall and Dane Galvin and middle blocker Jayden Bell lead a balanced attack.
The Cougars haven’t lost to a Nevada team since a four-set defeat to Palo Verde on March 26. They avenged the loss with a four-set win April 17.
Dark horse: Palo Verde
Palo Verde was the runner-up in last year’s title game, losing to Shadow Ridge in five sets. The Panthers have beaten most of the other 5A playoff teams.
Palo Verde could face a semifinal matchup with Green Valley, which beat the Panthers in a two-set sweep in a tournament March 30.
Potential first-round upset: No. 3M Arbor View over No. 2D Shadow Ridge
Arbor View finished third in the Mountain League and has to start the playoffs on the road. The Aggies swept Shadow Ridge, the two-time defending 5A state champion, on March 28 and ended the regular season with a sweep of Desert League champion Green Valley on April 30.
Class 4A
League champions: Mojave (Desert), Del Sol (Mountain), Basic (Sky)
The favorite: Mojave
The Rattlers dropped just six sets as they rolled to a 12-0 Desert League record to claim the league title and No. 1 seed with a first-round bye. By being at the top of the bracket, Mojave would avoid Del Sol or Basic until the state title match.
Dark horse: Bishop Gorman
Gorman lost a five-set thriller to Basic in its regular-season finale, which dropped the Gaels to the No. 2 seed and out of a first-round bye. The Gaels have a few of the state’s top outside hitters. Drew Dennis is third in the state with 453 kills, and TJ Woodson is third with a .370 hitting percentage.
Potential first-round upset: No. 4S Cimarron-Memorial over No. 2D Tech
Cimarron-Memorial defeated Tech twice in tournament play, in a two-set sweep March 2 and three sets April 13. The Spartans finished fourth in the more challenging Sky League, and one of their best wins was a five-set win over Basic on March 28.
Class 3A
League champions: Virgin Valley (Desert), Boulder City (Mountain)
The favorite: Boulder City
The Eagles look poised to win their third straight 3A title. Boulder City dropped one set in league play, and its only losses have been to 5A, 4A and out-of-state opponents. Travis Hess leads the state with a .515 hitting percentage and is third with 88 blocks.
Dark horse: Coral Academy
Coral Academy is the only team to win a set against Boulder City and would not have to face the Eagles until the title match.
Potential first-round upset: None
Boulder City, Virgin Valley, Coral Academy and Valley should all roll in their quarterfinals.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
Boys volleyball playoff schedule
State tournaments
All games at 6 p.m. at higher seed
Class 5A
Tuesday
State quarterfinals
No. 4M Desert Oasis at No. 1D Green Valley
No. 3D Centennial at No. 2M Palo Verde
No. 4D Sierra Vista at No. 1M Coronado
No. 3M Arbor View at No. 2D Shadow Ridge
Class 4A
Monday
State first round
No. 3M Las Vegas High at No. 3S Sky Pointe
No. 4D Legacy at No. 2S Bishop Gorman
No. 4M Chaparral at No. 3D Durango
No. 4S Cimarron-Memorial at No. 2D Tech
Wednesday
State quarterfinals
Las Vegas-Sky Pointe winner at No. 1D Mojave
Legacy-Bishop Gorman winner at No. 2M Spring Valley
Chaparral-Durango winner at No. 1S Basic
Cimarron-Memorial-Tech winner at No. 1M Del Sol
Class 3A
Tuesday
State quarterfinals
No. 4M Western at No. 1D Virgin Valley
No. 3D Moapa Valley at No. 2M Coral Academy
No. 4D Mater East at No. 1M Boulder City
No. 3M Canyon Springs at No. 2D Valley
Nevada
Nevada Donor Network acquires new building for Donor Care Unit
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Nevada Donor Network is getting ready to expand its footprint in Las Vegas.
This week, organization officials announced they have purchased a 35,000-square-foot building, which is located at 1050 E. Sahara Avenue.
The new building will house the organization’s Donor Care Unit, which is “designed to enhance efficiencies and improve outcomes across all facets of the donation process.”
“The establishment of our Donor Care Unit represents a monumental step forward in our commitment to serve our community,” said Elizabeth Shipman, Vice President of Organ Operations at Nevada Donor Network. “Through this initiative, we aim to revolutionize the donation process, ensuring that every donor’s legacy lives on through the gift of life.”
Nevada Donor Network said they were able to purchase and remodel the building with state-issued ARPA grant funds, which come from the American Rescue Plan Act.
The DCU is expected to open and begin operations in the first quarter of 2025.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, since 1988, 2,222 transplants have been performed in Nevada. From January 1 through May 26, 2024, there have been 56 transplants performed in Nevada.
When looking at the number of people who are waiting for transplants, HHS data shows 302 people are registered in Nevada. All of those patients are waiting for either a kidney or pancreas transplant.
To learn more about how to become an organ donor, you can learn more here.
Nevada
ROH TV Spoilers From Las Vegas, Nevada (Taped On 5/25)
On May 25, Ring of Honor taped matches for an upcoming episode of ROH TV alongside AEW Collision from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The spoilers, courtesy of F4WOnline.com, are as follows:
- Zak Knight defeated Jon Cruz in a dark match.
- Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) defeated The Workhorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry)
- Queen Aminata defeated Mazzerati
- The Dark Order (John Silver, Evil Uno, and Alex Reynolds defeated The Iron Savages (Boulder and Bronson) and Jacked Jameson and Johnny TV, Cole Karter, and Griff Garrison
- Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty) defeated Nick Comoroto and Jacoby Watts
- ROH World Women’s TV Champion Billie Starkz defeated Dafaya
- Red Velvet attacked Starkz after the match. Queen Aminata was in Billie’s corner.
- ROH World TV Championship: Kyle Fletcher (c) defeated Dalton Castle
WrestleZone has coverage of ROH TV as it airs every Thursday.
Emmy Camacho Reflects On Learning From Allison Danger, ROH Women’s Champ Athena
Nevada
Pair of Southern Nevada fathers thrilled to watch their sons play at JUCO World Series
There is nothing more a parent wants more than for their child to live and achieve their dreams.
Two sets of fathers and sons are sharing that dream at the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series.
Mike Cruz, who played for the College of Southern Nevada in the 2003 JUCO World Series, and Coyotes coach Nick Garritano are watching their sons play in the 2024 national championship tournament.
“It gives me goosebumps,” Cruz said of getting to watch his son play in the JUCO World Series. “It’s awesome. It was all his decision to come here. It’s exciting, it was for me. I’m so glad him and his team get to experience it.”
Garritano has not played in the JUCO World Series but is coaching the Coyotes in it for a second time, but this time his son, Nick Garritano Jr. is playing.
“It’s a feeling I cannot describe in words,” Garritano said. “To be able to share the field with him in this stadium is a dream come true to be honest. There will be memories we will share for the rest of our lives. I feel truly blessed.”
Cruz, who helped the Coyotes win the 2003 national title, made the trip from Reno, Nevada, to watch his son, Mike Cruz Jr.
The Coyotes (51-10) defeated Northwest Florida State College 7-6 on Saturday in the World Series.
Cruz Sr. started at third base for the Community College of Southern Nevada in its first JUCO appearance in only the program’s fifth year of existence. The Coyotes lost their first game to Seminole College (Fla.), but came back through the losers’ bracket, winning five consecutive games to win the national title. They were the first team to lose their first game of the tournament and come back to win the national title. Cruz received the Jay Tolman Outstanding Defensive Player award.
“Oh, man, what an experience,” Cruz said. “We lost our first game to Seminole Florida. The first pitch of the game was a triple off the fence. We were all, ‘Whoa!’ After that game, our moral was high. We still knew we were going to do it. No one doubted it.”
Cruz went on to play at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and is now a heavy equipment operator for a construction company in Reno.
“Grand Junction is the top by far,” Cruz said regarding his baseball experience. “Later in the week, the stands will be packed. Signing autographs for kids is amazing. You don’t sign autographs in high school or at CSN or UNLV.”
Those memories came rushing back while sitting in the stands watching his son warm up for Saturday’s game.
“I get to live it again,” Cruz said. “Being here brings everything back like it was yesterday. It was an incredible experience. These kids will never forget it.”
Cruz’s girlfriend at the time, Alise Porto, was at the tournament pregnant with Mikey.
Cruz Jr., who goes by Mikey, was at the ballfield with his parents as Cruz went on to play at the next level, wearing his dad’s batting gloves and played baseball as long as he can remember, but he didn’t come to Southern Nevada because of his dad.
“It is definitely cool, but I didn’t get an opportunity to play here because of my dad,” Mikey said. “I didn’t decide to come here because of my dad. I felt it was the best fit for me. I do want to achieve the same goal as my dad when he was here.”
Cruz Sr. has supported his son — from choosing to play baseball on his own and where he would play college baseball. Cruz Jr., a sophomore, is committed to play at UNLV next year.
“He’s been one of my number one supporters and my mom’s been one of my number one supporters throughout my whole baseball career,” Mikey said. “He just says the same thing as the coaches say, cherish every moment and make the best of it because you never know when it will be over. I’m grateful it’s not over yet.”
Nick Garritano Jr., who goes by Nicky, grew up playing baseball and always wanted to play for his dad.
“These last two years have been awesome,” Nicky said. “I’ve grown up around the field, knowing I want to play for him. Sometimes it’s hard, but at the end of the day it is a blessing.”
Nick Garritano took over the program in the fall of 2010, only six months after the Coyotes played in the 2010 JUCO World Series. Garritano, though, was the second coach hired after Tim Chambers retired in November 2010.
The coach that took over for Chambers broke recruiting rules and was put on probation for two years. That coach was let go and Garritano came in to clean up the mess. Southern Nevada lost 10 scholarships in that probation.
Six and a half years later, Garritano had the Coyotes back in the World Series and Nicky, was there for it. He was 13-years-old when they qualified in 2017.
“I remember Grand Junction being really cool and the stadium was super cool,” Nicky said. “It was a fun tournament to watch. It really was cool to see so many people in the stands. It is a lot more than what we’re used to playing in front of back home. It was a really good atmosphere too.
“I finally get to play. This is a good group. If we play our brand of baseball, we will be alright. We have good chemistry. We’ve been through just about every situation imaginable on the field.”
For Coach Garritano, coaching his son in the JUCO World Series is the highlight of his 28 years in baseball.
“He’s been a part of the program since he was a little boy,” Garritano said of his son. “He and I both have really tried to make this about the team. From day one I told him you are going to earn the respect of your teammates. He won’t be given everything. He’s treated no different than the other players.
“To know this is coming down to the last six or seven days, it’s the coolest experience I’ve ever had. It’s hard, it’s not easy, because every parent, every dad sitting in the stands today wants their kids to do as good as they can. When they struggle, they feel it too. I’m a dad too. I’ve got to be careful not to be too exuberant, but at the same time, as a coach/dad on the field, it’s a little bit of a juggling act, but I think we’ve done a good job of handling that.”
Whether the Coyotes can duplicate the success of the 2003 team or not, the father-son duos will leave Grand Junction with a memorable experience they will get to share for years to come.
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