In November, before the club season began, the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Volleyball Club made a move north this year from Pittsburgh to Butler for its practices. Then, in June, it made a move south, to Dallas, Texas, after qualifying for the national tournament for the first time in the program's history.

A second-place finish at IUP in April sent the Three Rivers Volleyball Club to nationals. Against 50 teams in the American Division (one level below the National Level), the club finished in fifth place. Three Rivers went 6-3 overall, finishing first in the first round of pool play.

"They played as well as they could have, they were really exceptional," head coach Rob Snyder said. "I knew we had a good team and we have done very well all year, but we haven't been to this tournament and I didn't really know what to expect. It was a good tournament ... they were just on."

Noelle Lininger, a Fox Chapel High School graduate who is headed to Edinboro University, was named to the All-Tournament team at nationals. She is an outside hitter for the Three Rivers team.

Going against some of the top competition in the country with 50 other teams, Lininger was clearly surprised when she was one of the last names called when the all-tournament team was announced. She was actually eating almonds at the time, not expecting to be called.

"They just started announcing people and it was mainly people from the Dallas and California team. My coach had warned a few of us we might be called, but I really wasn't expecting it. When they called my name I went up there with food in my mouth," Lininger said with a laugh.

Lininger spent the past two season's of club volleyball with two other area programs. Two years ago, she played for Renaissance; last season, she played for Pitt Elite before her best friend Justine Carrow, who was on the Three Rivers team, invited her to come out for the squad.

The club volleyball season begins for girls right after the PIAA championships finishes in November and usually ends in May. The Three Rivers Club was able to stretch its season two months longer this year. The national tournament was held at the Dallas Convention Center with more than 50 courts in one room.

"When you first get there, you see a lot of teams and we were a little intimidated," Snyder said. "Once they got onto the court and started playing, it's all the same. They started to do very well. They knew it was a big deal and the pressure could have gotten to them, but they started to play well and they got some confidence early on."

The Three Rivers team competes in the 18-and-under age group and draws players mainly from the north suburbs of Pittsburgh. Four players are from Seneca Valley, where Snyder is an assistant volleyball coach. Along with Lininger at Fox Chapel, the team had two players from Butler and one from the Clarion Area.

Lauren Balmert, the setter was a big part of the team. She was also the setter for the Seneca Valley this past season and helped the Raiders to a fouth-place finish in the WPIAL and a section title.

She was one of three returning starters for the club team along with Margaret Gillolly and Meghan Franz. The club team went into each game with a big advantage over opponents. Volleyball teams in Pennsylvania generally lack height, but the Three Rivers squad has two players taller than 6 feet and four more at least 5-10.

Other members of the team were Stephanie Mock and Rebecca Smith from Butler and North Allegheny graduate Maria Nolan.