Silvernail Stands Out For U.S. Team

After an impressive 6-1 start, the U.S. women’s national volleyball team, featuring former Washington State standout Sarah Silvernail, departed for the International Grand Prix Tournament on Monday.

Silvernail, on crutches earlier this summer after suffering a knee injury, already is showing the skills that earned her the 1996 Pac-10 player of the year award.

In a July match against Germany in Grand Rapids, Mich., Silvernail led Team USA with 22 kills in a five-set comeback win.

Team USA’s month-long trip includes stops in Macau, Taipei and Gifu against national teams from China, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands, Japan, Cuba and Russia.

Upon its return, Team USA will prepare for the NORCECA zone championships in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Sept. 11-19.

Football

University of Idaho launched its 1997 football campaign Monday when newcomers reported to campus.

The full squad should be on hand by Thursday, with picture day Friday. Practice begins Saturday.

Idaho opens its season Aug. 30 at the Air Force Academy.

Softball

Graphic Design scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to overcome Western Wood 11-10 and win the Spokane Amateur Softball Association Men’s B Modified Metro championship Sunday.

Graphic Design, which went through the 17-team tournament unbeaten, will lead a contingent of 13 Spokane teams into the Men’s B Modified National Invitational Tournament Aug. 15-17 at Franklin Park.

E-Z Loader finished third Sunday.

A companion to the B will be a men’s 10-man 40-and-over NIT that weekend.

Golf

Craig Schuh of Deer Park fashioned a 6-under-par 65 on nines of 33-32 to win Monday’s Athletic Round Table Pro-Am at Manito Golf & Country Club.

Amateur Darin Danekas of Ritzville claimed second with a 34-32-66.

Four pros shared third three shots back - Bob Scott of MeadowWood; Tim Morton, Avondale; Mike Elmore, Coeur d’Alene Golf Club; and Alan Jenkins, Esmeralda.

Manito pro Steve Prugh led a six-man local contingent in the first round of the Pacific Northwest Section PGA Club Professional Championship at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton.

Prugh shot a first-round 72, five shots back of leader Michael Combs of Kennewick.

The final round is today.

None of the seven Spokane-area golfers in East Wenatchee on Monday qualified for the United States Golf Association Amateur Tournament.

Rob Rashell of Snohomish, Wash., led the Northwest qualifier with a 68-70-138.

, DataTimes