By Pete Borello
Of course the Kaepa City Beach 18 Black volleyball team would have loved to return from Salt Lake City with a first-place trophy in tow.
Under the circumstances, however, the Santa Clara-based club team isn’t complaining about finishing as runner-up in the 18 Open Division of the 2002 USA Girls Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships.
“Our team wishes we would have won it all, but we were satisfied with second,” said Colby Lyman, one of four St. Francis High players on Kaepa. “We didn’t exactly have a very steady, successful season before JOs and were actually quite shocked (by) how well we did.”
Overcoming injuries that hampered several key players, the team won its first eight matches of the national tournament - held June 26 through July 7 - to reach the final. That’s where Kaepa met the bigger, more experienced Front Range 180 Black, which prevailed by a rally score of 25-15, 20-25, 25-22, 25-20.
“We didn’t play poorly, but they were flawless,” Kaepa coach Mike Pitts said of Front Rage, a team from Denver. “Their coach told me afterward that it was the best they’ve played all season.”
Lyman said Front Rage’s imposing size - they have two players listed at 6-foot-4 - affected Kaepa’s psyche.
“In the final match, I think we were a little bit (intimidated) by how big Front Range was and how they have two players skipping college to play on the national team,” the Los Altos Hills resident said. “In the first game, we came out scared and lost 25-15. After that first game, we came together and realized we could play with them and we have nothing to lose.”
Kaepa’s kill leaders in the match included the St. Francis contingent of right-side hitter Lyman, outside hitter Jessica Gysin and middle blocker Diane Copenhagen, according to Pitts, while fellow Lancer Annie Connor contributed off the bench.
“Diane and Jess were outstanding,” senior Lyman said of her teammates, both juniors. “Jess really helped lead the team, and we could all rely on her to pull through in clutch situations.”
Kaepa had three players make the all-tournament team: Lyman, Gysin and setter Lindsey Sherburne (Mitty). And all three, plus Copenhagen, played through pain. Sherburne had a sprained ankle; Lyman a sore ankle/shin; Copenhagen an injured shoulder and Gysin a sore thumb, shoulder, hamstring and ankle.
“We all went to the trainers every morning and night and got worked on so we were able to perform the way we did,” Lyman said.
Since most of the players are only 16, it’s possible the team could regroup next season for another run at the national title. However, questions remain about that.
“Next year, I don’t know what is going to happen,” Lyman said. “I know a few of us are for sure going to stay together, but we don’t know about the rest of the girls and who our coach is going
