Orange is the Color of Support

Erin Campbell
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: erin.campbell@usav.org

RENO, Nev. (July 2, 2010) – For the 12-18 age groups that are participating in the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships in Reno, Nev., the hardest things they’re dealing with in their daily lives probably consists of boys, clothes and what movie to see Friday night. But for one team, there is much more on their minds.

Rachel Steele, a player for Club Utah 16 Black (Orem, Utah, Intermountain Region), is one of the keys to Club Utah’s success. Along with her exceptional play on the court, she is known as the team joke-maker.

“She is so funny,” Club Utah 16 Black player Makyla Theurer said. “She has such a good attitude and always knows how to make people laugh and smile.”

Being a devoted volleyball player, Steele was participating in a camp that required for her to play six to eight hours a day. Into the second week, she began getting intense head aches. She decided to go to the doctor and the news that she was given was the last thing the team expected. Two weeks ago, Steele was diagnosed with Leukemia (MLA).

“We were so shocked,” Theurer said. “She is so fit and healthy. We never would have expected this to happen to someone who is so close to us.”

In honor of Steele, who could not make the trip to Reno with her teammates, the team decided to take the opportunity of giving gifts to pass the word along to support their dear friend. The color for Leukemia Awareness is orange and coincidently, bright orange is also Rachel’s favorite color.

“We made these slips of paper that gives everyone a little bit more information about Rachel,” Club Utah player Krystal Harward said.

Along with the slip of paper, the team attached an orange ribbon that they hope people will attach to their backpacks or put them in their hair to bring awareness to their cause. They also put out eight pieces of poster board for people who are coming in and out of the convention center to sign for Steele.

“It’s been really great,” Club Utah player Brooklyn Langham said. “The boards are completely full.”

Club Utah 16 Black made shirts that read “STEELESTRONG” on the back. They made orange jerseys with the same slogan and wear orange rubber bracelets.

Even though Steele is currently undergoing treatment at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, she is still going through the ups and downs with her team as she watches on Skype from one of the parent’s laptops.

For more information on Steele and her condition, you can read her blog by clicking here.

Volleyball fans across the nation can see what some of the recruiters are scouting this week, thanks to the Internet. In a partnership with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Volleyball will stream live video of championship matches scheduled between July 1 and July 3 can be viewed live. This schedule includes gold-medal matches in the Open, National and American Divisions for 17s (July 1), 18s (July 2) and 16s (July 3) age groups. To access the stream during the matches, visit usavolleyball.org/live. For more information on the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships, click here. For all brackets, results and schedules, click here.

Click here for the complete Schedule.

2010 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships
12 National: Gold - Borinquen Coqui 12-1F (Puerto Rico), Silver - I Mua Girls 12s (Aloha), Bronze - ASICS MAVS 12 Blue (Heart of America) and WAVE 12 Jade Spalding (Southern California)
12 American: Gold - Club West 12 Elite (Southern California), Silver - Laguna Beach 12 Gaido (Southern California, Bronze - SG Elite 12 Roshambo (Southern California) and Excel 12 Elite National (North Texas)
13 National: Gold - SG Elite 13 Roshambo (Southern California), Silver - ASICS MAVS 13 Blue (Heart of America), Bronze - Arizona Sky 13N1 (Arizona) and WAVE 13 Katie Spalding (Southern California)
13 American: Gold - Rockwood Thunder 13-1 (Gateway), Silver - Team Piko 13 (Aloha), Bronze - Iowa Rockets 13 Black (Iowa) and Mizuno Long Beach 13 Mizuno (Southern California)
14 Open: Gold - Delta Valley 14-1 (Northern California), Silver - Miz LB 14 Rockstar (Southern California), Bronze - ASICS MAVS 14 Blue (Heart of America) and TAV 14 VB Rags Black (North Texas)
14 National: Gold - Ka Ulukoa 14 Wekiu (Aloha), Silver - City Beach 14 Black (Northern California), Bronze - Mizuno Northern Lights 14-1 (North Country) and Amarillo Aces 14-1 (Sun Country)
14 American: Gold - Nike Six Pack 14-1 (Iowa), Silver - NKYVC 14 Tsunami (Ohio Valley), Bronze - So Cal Elite 14-Elite (Southern California) and Coast 14-1 Luis (Northern California)
15 Open: Gold - Invasion 15 Black (Heart of America), Silver - Mizuno Northern Lights 15-1 (North Country), Bronze - STL CYC 15 Green (Gateway) and TAV 15 VB Rags Blue (North Texas)
15 National: Gold - City Beach 15 Black (Northern California), Silver - Tejas 15 Kaepa 1 (North Texas), Bronze - Synergy 15 Orange (Keystone) and Black Swamp 15 Orwig (Ohio Valley)
15 American: Gold - Vision Zone 15 Elite (Northern California), Silver - Club West 15 Elite (Southern California), Bronze - Lakewood Performance 15 (Rocky Mountain) and Springfield 15 Blue (Heart of America)
All Girls’ 16 Divisions: June 30- July 3
17 Open: Gold - TAV 17 VB Rags Black (North Texas), Silver - Synergy 17 Orange (Keystone), Bronze - Vision 17 Gold (Northern California) and Premier 17 Mizuno (Northern California)
17 National: Gold - Michigan Elite 3rd Degree 17-1 (Lakeshore), Silver - Mizuno Northern Lights 17-1 (North Country), Bronze - TAV 17 VB Rags Blue (North Texas) and Atlantis Pterodactyls (Ohio Valley)
18 Open: Gold - Sports Shack 18 ASICS (Southern California), Silver - Rancho Valley 18-1 (Southern California), Bronze - Laguna Beach 18 MS (Southern California) and Vision 18 Gold (Northern California)
18 National: Gold - DPR 18 (Rocky Mountain), Silver - Golden Bear 18 FF (Southern California), Bronze - Cincy Classics 18 Red (Ohio Valley) and River City Jrs 18-1 (Great Plains)
18 American: Gold - IPVA 18 Black (Iowa), Silver - NW Jrs 18 Air Max (Columbia Empire), Bronze - TAV 18 VB Rags Blue (North Texas) and Synergy 18 Orange (Keystone)

Tags: USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships