SLCC athletics are getting it done locally

It is a great time to be a fan of Salt Lake Community College athletics.

With the women's basketball team on a seven-game win streak and the volleyball team enjoying a fourth-place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament, there is a lot to love about being a Bruin.

One of the best reasons to love the Bruins' athletic programs is that these coaches are winning with mostly local talent. Of the volleyball team's 15 players, just three are from out of state.

"Even when I was at Western Wyoming, I recruited Utah," said Bruins head volleyball coach Sue Dulaney. "The high school and club coaches do a great job...They teach great fundamentals. The state has a lot to offer in terms of quality volleyball."

In her second year at the helm of the volleyball program, the Bruins won the Region 18 Tournament and earned a No. 1 ranking going into the NJCAA Tournament last week.

"Number one is a tough spot," she said. "It definitely makes you a target."

The Bruins also lost their starting right side hitter, Skyline High's Whitney Nilson, who was injured in the region tournament.

"It was hard to replace her with eight practices," said Dulaney. "Taking fourth, we're disappointed. But the girls did the best they could...We stuck it out to the end and battled."

Before the season even started, Dulaney knew she had something special.

"I recruited to win the region," she said. "The freshman coming in definitely had accolades in high school, but it's not college...We knew we had talent."

Two of the Bruins' freshman, Erika Charry and Shelbi Zaldain, were selected for the National All-Tournament team, while Murray High standout, Ame White, earned Region 18 Tournament MVP honors.

White ranked in the top 10 SWAC in kills per set (2.45) and digs per set (2.23).

Dulaney has heard from a number of Division I coaches – about her freshman especially.

"They know Salt Lake is traditionally strong," she said. "We've already signed four girls and our freshman want to stay. They want to win a national title."

The college won it's first national championship last winter when the men's basketball team won the NJCAA title.

And despite the disappointment of ending with a loss, the volleyball program promises to be even stronger next season.

The excitement – and the accolades – won't end now that attention shifts to basketball season.

The women's basketball team is on a seven-game winning streak and is currently ranked No. 3. Again, just three of the players on the roster are from out-of-state. Fans of hard-nosed basketball are enjoying the tough, never-say-die play of this year's squad led by last year's high school 5A MVP Haley Holmstead.

Holmstead is doing at SLCC exactly what she did for American Fork High School – breaking records and winning games.

The difference this year is that many of the women helping her win were the very same players trying to shut her down last season.

Avi Burgess played at Riverton High last year. The Silverwolves faced Holmstead's highly favored Cavemen in the 5A state championship last year. Nine months after that showdown, Burgess and Holmstead are working together to make the Bruins a formidable squad.

With success at SLCC, these local products will not only earn themselves athletic and educational opportunities, they will inspire a sense of pride and accomplishment to the community that supports them.

e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com