BOISE, Idaho — Boise State women's beach volleyball standout Emilia Guerra-Acuña recently had to take some time off, but not to step out of the sand where she thrives. In fact, she was trying out for another team.
What started as a joke with her father has turned into Guerra-Acuña's dream – an opportunity to represent his native country.
The San Antonio native is approaching her peak, heading into the final leg of a junior season where Guerra-Acuña and partner Ava Anderson were promoted to the Broncos' No. 2 spot, and went on a 10-match winning streak.
"I think the biggest thing is her composure," Boise State head coach Allison Voigt said. "She loves that pressure moment and she's able to compose herself, play at a really high level no matter what's going on."
Despite the success at Boise State this season, the best is yet to come.
"For the longest time me and my dad have kind of always joked about going and trying out for the Mexico Olympic National Team," Guerra-Acuña said. "Kind of like, 'imagine if that was ever possible.'"
The dream turned into a conversation with the Mexican National Women’s Beach Volleyball Team, which transformed into an opportunity.
"It was a joke all this time and then suddenly it became a reality," Hector Guerra said.
Within two weeks, Guerra-Acuña was on a plane to Mexico, meeting with her dad to go and try out for the team.
"Wow, this is really crazy. We're actually doing this," Guerra-Acuña said. "I was super nervous, but my dad really helped me calm down and enjoy the experience, 'cause this isn't something you can do every day."
A proud and "very emotional" moment for her father was also a homecoming. He grew up in Monterrey, where the trial was located.
He found his own love for volleyball at the city's American high school, and was now doing his best to stay calm under the high stakes of a huge opportunity.
"You cheer whether you win, you cheer if you lose, and I just stay as calm as I can be," Guerra said. "I did get crazy sometimes."
There was a learning curve, but Guerra-Acuña's composure helped her elevate her game.
"They kind of ran things a lot of things higher, so they like set the ball past the antenna," Guerra-Acuña said. "Being able to adapt and change with each person, each partnership, each coach even. Being able to change with them and taking what they say and do it, right there and then."
In the end, the tryout was a success. After completing the paperwork for duel citizenship, Guerra-Acuña will officially become a member of the Mexican National Team.
She plans to compete in international competitions through the summer, a step toward the ultimate goal of competing in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
"It was a big, eye-opening experience seeing 'wow, I'm able to do this,' and give some more confidence to myself," Guerra-Acuña said.
Right now, the immediate goal is to do her part to help Boise State win the Southland Conference Championship. The experience provided even more motivation for the Bronco.
"She came back from this experience knowing 'I want to add more.' You know, and she has that spark of keep adding to her game," Voigt said. "Not only leading by example, but now 'let's use my voice a little bit more and connect with people and keep getting better as a team.'"
Guerra-Acuña and the Broncos earned the No. 2 seed for the 2024 Southland Conference Beach Volleyball Championship in Houston. Boise State faces No. 7 McNeese State in the first round on Friday at 10:15 a.m. MT.
Following last year's runner-up finish, Boise State looks to punch its ticket to the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship for the first time in program history. The winner of the conference tournament earns an automatic bid.
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