DON McDERMOTT / PVT Amy Braach-Hart, right, is the first-year coach for the Pahrump Valley High School volleyball team, which opens its season at 3:30 p.m. today at Green Valley against Class 4-A Las Vegas Silverado. Advertisement

Pahrump Valley launches its 2007 campaign against Nevada Class 4-A power Las Vegas Silverado at 3:30 p.m. today in the prestigious Las Vegas Invitational Volleyball tournament.

The match will be played at Green Valley High School in Henderson, where coach Amy Braach-Hart's team will also play Hurricane, Utah, at 4:30 p.m. and Las Vegas Clark at 6:30 p.m. in Pool E matches.

The tournament resumes at 8 a.m. Saturday, with matches in various pools. The top two teams in each pool will go to Las Vegas High for championship rounds; the third- and fourth-place teams will compete at Green Valley. Bracket matches are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

There will be five seniors and eight juniors on the varsity roster for this tournament, according to the first-year varsity coach.

The seniors are right-side hitter Frankie Beatty, right-side defender Lindsay Cummings, defensive specialist Elena Holzer; outside hitter Taylor Lau, and libero Brittney Lindgren.

The juniors are middle blocker-middle hitter Kristi Daffer; right-side Alexis Carroll; outside hitter-defensive specialist Karen Daun; setter-libero Ashley Humbert; outside hitter Alycia Jordan; middle blocker-middle hitter Ashley Rencher; setter Arlette Scott, and middle blocker-defender Shayna Smith.

"This has been a good group of girls," said Braach-Hart, before a team workout Monday, where more than 40 players were on the court.

"I am looking forward to going to the tournament, where some of the toughest teams we will see this season are playing," said the coach. "Their attitude has been very positive ... they have a great attitude, and they seem to be having fun.

"The important thing is we have a lot of multi-sport athletes who want to play this game," said Braach-Hart, who previously coached at Rosemary Clarke Middle School.

The Trojans could play as many as eight matches in this tournament. Next weekend, they host an invitational tournament which has nine outside opponents entered, including Nye County rivals Beatty and Tonopah.