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Local athlete participates in national AAU Volley Fest

Local Sundance High School athlete, Cana McInerney, participated in the National AAU Volley Festival in Phoenix, AZ, June 30 to July 3. McInerney played for Casper Nitro.

Casper Nitro is an AAU club that invited Cana to play in the spring of 2021 and played in tournaments in Wyoming and Montana. Casper Nitro and AAU Athletic Club was created in 2010 by Kara Crawford Fink, a Sundance High School graduate and daughter of Greta Crawford, former SHS volleyball coach. 

The 2021 Casper Nitro team included Anna Fink, Ruby Salazar, Emily McOmie, Tamryn Blom, Jacie Kuhnel and Ryan Skinner, all from Natrona County High School in Casper. Recent Sundance High School graduate and 2A All State Volleyball award winner, Sherry Negaard, was invited to play along with Sundance High School junior, Cana McInerney.

During the spring AAU season, Casper Nitro participated in several tournaments in Wyoming and at the Big Sky Volley Fest in Billings, MT. Nitro competed at a high level, earned a top bracket placement and won against college-bound players from around the country. 

Finally, the season culminated in the Wyoming Super Regional, in Casper. On May 16, the Casper Nitro were the Wyoming Super Regional U18 Champions earning a paid entry fee to a National AAU Tournament.

The team chose the Volleyball Festival in Phoenix. This tournament was from June 30 until July 3. 

Due to schedule conflicts, Casper Nitro added two new players, Jessie Jerome, a junior from Rawlins High School, and Morgan Lonn, a sophomore from Rawlins High School. With new personnel there were some struggles, but as always, they came through in the afternoon.

Unfortunately, the recently moved outside hitter Tamryn Blom sprained her ankle on Thursday and Morgan Lonn was forced to step up. 

Casper Nitro won the match and went 3 and 0 on Thursday. Nitro played 11 matches in four days and played teams from Arizona, California, Hawaii and several other states.

Despite the injury, heat and fatigue the Nitro ended up with a 30th ranking out of 96. Most importantly, as always, they played as a team and had a lot of fun. 

 
 
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