Flashback: Sarah Silvernail, Fife, Class of 1993

Sport: Volleyball

High-school rewind: The 6-foot-1 Silvernail was part of two state-championship teams. After helping Eisenhower of Yakima win the Class AAA (now 4A) title as a sophomore in 1990, she sat out her junior year with what was eventually diagnosed as chronic-fatigue syndrome. As a senior, Silvernail moved to Fife, where her father was principal of the high school, and she led the Trojans to the Class AA (now 3A) state crown.

After high school: Two-time All-American at Washington State was named Pac-10 Player of the Year as a senior. She still holds WSU records for kills in a match (29), season (649) and career (1,848) and last year was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. Played with the U.S. national team and professionally before retiring because of injuries.

After athletics: Moved to Austin, Texas, to be with her boyfriend, Jerritt Elliott, volleyball coach for the University of Texas. Silvernail recently started her own business and conducts coaches clinics around the country.

Personal: Has a 5-year-old daughter, Kahle. Mom, Sandy, still lives in Yakima and Dad, Chuck, is an assistant superintendent in Fife. Older brother, David, and younger half-sister, Liz; older sister, Christine, died in an automobile accident four days after Sarah discovered she was pregnant with Kahle.

Fast forward: Her volleyball career was cut short by a series of injuries, beginning with a dislocated elbow the spring before the 2000 Olympics and finally with a ruptured disc in her neck. But Silvernail, 28, puts her volleyball knowledge to good use. In addition to putting on clinics, she is writing a coaching manual that focuses on the mechanics of the sport.

"I am totally a braniac volleyball nerd," she said, adding she has no desire to coach.

Silvernail might be raising a future volleyball player, though. Her 5-year-old daughter already stands 4-3.

— Sandy Ringer