Post by beachvball on Oct 19, 2007 10:50:29 GMT -5
Here's the real article for this week.
Sisters' rivalry continues
Vargas family will meet again when LBSU battles UCSB.
By Frank Burlison, Staff writer
LONG BEACH - The first cross-net reunion of the setting sisters Vargas, Nicole and Dana, went smoothly enough last month, especially from the perspective of older - by two years in age and two seasons in NCAA Division I volleyball experience - sister Nicole and her Long Beach State teammates.
The Olympic offspring - father Joe Vargas played on the U.S. water polo clubs in 1980 and `84, the same years that mother Debbie Green, a current LBSU assistant, was the setter on the U.S. volleyball team - and their teams hook up again in a 7 p.m. Big West Conference match in the Walter Pyramid.
If dad (from the stands) and mom (from the 49ers' bench) were members of a small group with an emotional investment in watching the graduates of St. Joseph facing off for the first time on the club, high school or college level, that is not going to be the case the second time around tonight.
"It's going to be nice because Dana sort of grew up in the Pyramid," Nicole said before a practice in the Walter Pyramid Tuesday afternoon, not feeling the need to tack on the obvious "and so did I" at the end of the sentence.
"I think the whole family - grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins . . . everyone - is going to show up.
We're trying to find as many tickets as we can."
And, apparently, most of the anxiety that had accumulated for the Sept. 22 match was left on the Special Events Center floor following the conclusion of the 49ers' ultimate three-game (30-27, 30-18 and 30-28) victory.
In reality, it probably became moot after the first serve of the match.
"It wasn't as crazy as I thought it would be," Dana said later Tuesday night. "When I looked across the net and saw my sister warming up ... I had to laugh about it. It was a little awkward and funny. But, once (play) started, we just went at it hard - just like any other match."
The sisters each played well, with Nicole accumulating 41 assists and four digs, and Dana countering with 40 assists and four blocks.
When the sisters made the trip with their parents south on the 101 after the match (Dana was returning home, to Seal Beach, for the first time since leaving for UCSB's campus in Goleta in early August), any hopes of steering the conversation away from volleyball weren't particularly successful.
"But it was more because of my dad," Nicole said, smiling. "He was like, `OK, who had more kills? Who had more digs?"'
If you're expecting a "Isn't it cool how the setters at rival college programs who just happened to be the daughters of perhaps the best to play their position in the sport's history also happen to be the best of buddies?" you're reading it.
The later angle to the story is only a relatively recent phenomenon, however.
That's because, despite living in the same household until Nicole moved into an LBSU dormitory suite as a freshman two years ago, being teammates at St. Joseph for two years and sharing a common goal - to be dynamite setters - their relationship apparently bordered on the contentious.
"We didn't really get along," Nicole said, without fluttering an eyelid.
"We fought - we battled - over everything."
There was an ever-so-brief pause.
"We," she said, smiling broadly, "both have very strong personalities."
Even as St. Joseph teammates, "we'd fight (verbally, during matches and practices). `How come you didn't set me right?' Or `Why did you set them instead of me? I was wide open!'
"That kind of stuff."
It didn't leave once they left a gym.
"We'd watch TV (and argue)," Nicole added. "It became a competitive sport for us. We'd fight over clothes or who had the bigger room."
That about covers it.
She got no argument from her mom or sister about that interpretation.
"It was the typical `sister conflicts,"' Debbie Green said.
"Nicole and I were never very close . . . it was the typical `big sister, little sister' rivalry," Dana said.
Of course, some of those disputes were unique to volleyball.
"You'd think we played for different teams, that's how hard we competed against each other (during practice at St. Joseph)," Dana said.
"It was insane. I would hit pepper with another teammate and would never criticize her (if she misplayed it). But I would say something (critical) to Nicole in a heartbeat."
A two-hour drive (give or take) is about the only that thing that separates the two now.
"Now she is definitely my best friend," the younger Vargas said.
And that's because ...?
"Once she moved out (to the LBSU dorms), I'd think `This is boring!'," Dana said. "When we were together, there was always something to do. As soon as the first week passed, I called her up and said `Hey, what are you up to?"'
Absence - even a few miles worth - did make the sisters' hearts grow fonder for the other's company or, at least, conversation.
"When Nicole moved out," Green said, "things did begin to change. And, during the times when Dana (during his final two years in high school) needed a `big sister,' Nicole was always there for her."
That being said, of course, there was something approaching zero chance that Dana was going to join her sister and mom as part of coach Brian Gimmillaro's 49ers' program.
"When I realized both were going to be playing college volleyball some day," Green said, "I just assumed it would be for schools in different parts of the country, especially since Dana seemed like she didn't have any problem about going away (a distance to college)."
When UCSB coach Kathy Gregory initiated recruiting contact with the Dana Vargas, the then-St. Joseph junior had to fight off an impulse to say "You're kidding me, right?"
Over the course of three decades, there hasn't been a more heated and competitive rivalry in women's volleyball than the one shared by the Gauchos and 49ers.
And the Vargas sisters had witnessed, first hand, all that the rivalry entailed since the moment they were able to keep their attention focused on a volleyball court.
"My mom told me `You know, you should probably visit UCSB and check it out,"' Dana said. "I was like `Ummm . . . I don't want to be seen in Santa Barbara; it's not for me!"'
The many battles Green and the 49ers had endured with the Gregory-coached Gauchos didn't temper the respect Green had for Gregory.
"I don't think there are a lot of college coaches who know a lot about setting or how to train a setter," Green said. "But Kathy is one of those who does. Knowing that Dana's goal is to be the best setter she can be, I was comfortable with that (Dana attending UCSB and playing for Gregory)."
Once Dana watched some of Gregory's individual workouts (in the spring) with her players and once she had several conversations with the Hall of Fame coach, she was sold.
And so something that she never imagined as a possibility - serving against the 49ers, in the Walter Pyramid with the Gauchos - two years ago, is going to take place tonight.
As for her mom, well ... she'll enjoy watching her youngest daughter in action a lot more when the Gauchos visit Long Beach on Thanksgiving weekend to play a couple of nonconference matches
"Then," Green said, smiling, "I can sit in the stands as a mom, watch her play and cheer like crazy."
And, yeah, Nicole might be doing a little cheering herself, of course.
NINER NOTES: The 49ers, who share the Big West lead with Cal Poly, are 12-5 overall and 6-1 in conference. The Gauchos are 7-12 and 2-5, and in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. Nicole Vargas (sore left foot) and senior middle blocker Alexis Crimes (sprained left ankle suffered in match a week ago tonight at Pacific) were held out of drills in practice this week for the 49ers but are expected to play tonight. But sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Naomi Washington will be sidelined for the remainder of the season because of the broken right ankle she suffered in the Saturday night match at UC Davis. It was initially believed that Washington had incurred a severe sprain but X-Rays proved otherwise and Washington was ruled out Tuesday morning. Freshmen Michelle Osunbor (who replaced Crimes Saturday and had three kills and seven assisted blocks) and Nicole Moore (who had two kills in her college debut Saturday) are expected to contend for the bulk of on-court time avail with Washington's absence. Senior middle blocker Brett Quirarte, a Wilson High graduate and two-time all-Big West selection., has a .333 attack percentage (fourth best in the conference) for the Gauchos.
Sisters' rivalry continues
Vargas family will meet again when LBSU battles UCSB.
By Frank Burlison, Staff writer
LONG BEACH - The first cross-net reunion of the setting sisters Vargas, Nicole and Dana, went smoothly enough last month, especially from the perspective of older - by two years in age and two seasons in NCAA Division I volleyball experience - sister Nicole and her Long Beach State teammates.
The Olympic offspring - father Joe Vargas played on the U.S. water polo clubs in 1980 and `84, the same years that mother Debbie Green, a current LBSU assistant, was the setter on the U.S. volleyball team - and their teams hook up again in a 7 p.m. Big West Conference match in the Walter Pyramid.
If dad (from the stands) and mom (from the 49ers' bench) were members of a small group with an emotional investment in watching the graduates of St. Joseph facing off for the first time on the club, high school or college level, that is not going to be the case the second time around tonight.
"It's going to be nice because Dana sort of grew up in the Pyramid," Nicole said before a practice in the Walter Pyramid Tuesday afternoon, not feeling the need to tack on the obvious "and so did I" at the end of the sentence.
"I think the whole family - grandparents, aunts, uncles cousins . . . everyone - is going to show up.
We're trying to find as many tickets as we can."
And, apparently, most of the anxiety that had accumulated for the Sept. 22 match was left on the Special Events Center floor following the conclusion of the 49ers' ultimate three-game (30-27, 30-18 and 30-28) victory.
In reality, it probably became moot after the first serve of the match.
"It wasn't as crazy as I thought it would be," Dana said later Tuesday night. "When I looked across the net and saw my sister warming up ... I had to laugh about it. It was a little awkward and funny. But, once (play) started, we just went at it hard - just like any other match."
The sisters each played well, with Nicole accumulating 41 assists and four digs, and Dana countering with 40 assists and four blocks.
When the sisters made the trip with their parents south on the 101 after the match (Dana was returning home, to Seal Beach, for the first time since leaving for UCSB's campus in Goleta in early August), any hopes of steering the conversation away from volleyball weren't particularly successful.
"But it was more because of my dad," Nicole said, smiling. "He was like, `OK, who had more kills? Who had more digs?"'
If you're expecting a "Isn't it cool how the setters at rival college programs who just happened to be the daughters of perhaps the best to play their position in the sport's history also happen to be the best of buddies?" you're reading it.
The later angle to the story is only a relatively recent phenomenon, however.
That's because, despite living in the same household until Nicole moved into an LBSU dormitory suite as a freshman two years ago, being teammates at St. Joseph for two years and sharing a common goal - to be dynamite setters - their relationship apparently bordered on the contentious.
"We didn't really get along," Nicole said, without fluttering an eyelid.
"We fought - we battled - over everything."
There was an ever-so-brief pause.
"We," she said, smiling broadly, "both have very strong personalities."
Even as St. Joseph teammates, "we'd fight (verbally, during matches and practices). `How come you didn't set me right?' Or `Why did you set them instead of me? I was wide open!'
"That kind of stuff."
It didn't leave once they left a gym.
"We'd watch TV (and argue)," Nicole added. "It became a competitive sport for us. We'd fight over clothes or who had the bigger room."
That about covers it.
She got no argument from her mom or sister about that interpretation.
"It was the typical `sister conflicts,"' Debbie Green said.
"Nicole and I were never very close . . . it was the typical `big sister, little sister' rivalry," Dana said.
Of course, some of those disputes were unique to volleyball.
"You'd think we played for different teams, that's how hard we competed against each other (during practice at St. Joseph)," Dana said.
"It was insane. I would hit pepper with another teammate and would never criticize her (if she misplayed it). But I would say something (critical) to Nicole in a heartbeat."
A two-hour drive (give or take) is about the only that thing that separates the two now.
"Now she is definitely my best friend," the younger Vargas said.
And that's because ...?
"Once she moved out (to the LBSU dorms), I'd think `This is boring!'," Dana said. "When we were together, there was always something to do. As soon as the first week passed, I called her up and said `Hey, what are you up to?"'
Absence - even a few miles worth - did make the sisters' hearts grow fonder for the other's company or, at least, conversation.
"When Nicole moved out," Green said, "things did begin to change. And, during the times when Dana (during his final two years in high school) needed a `big sister,' Nicole was always there for her."
That being said, of course, there was something approaching zero chance that Dana was going to join her sister and mom as part of coach Brian Gimmillaro's 49ers' program.
"When I realized both were going to be playing college volleyball some day," Green said, "I just assumed it would be for schools in different parts of the country, especially since Dana seemed like she didn't have any problem about going away (a distance to college)."
When UCSB coach Kathy Gregory initiated recruiting contact with the Dana Vargas, the then-St. Joseph junior had to fight off an impulse to say "You're kidding me, right?"
Over the course of three decades, there hasn't been a more heated and competitive rivalry in women's volleyball than the one shared by the Gauchos and 49ers.
And the Vargas sisters had witnessed, first hand, all that the rivalry entailed since the moment they were able to keep their attention focused on a volleyball court.
"My mom told me `You know, you should probably visit UCSB and check it out,"' Dana said. "I was like `Ummm . . . I don't want to be seen in Santa Barbara; it's not for me!"'
The many battles Green and the 49ers had endured with the Gregory-coached Gauchos didn't temper the respect Green had for Gregory.
"I don't think there are a lot of college coaches who know a lot about setting or how to train a setter," Green said. "But Kathy is one of those who does. Knowing that Dana's goal is to be the best setter she can be, I was comfortable with that (Dana attending UCSB and playing for Gregory)."
Once Dana watched some of Gregory's individual workouts (in the spring) with her players and once she had several conversations with the Hall of Fame coach, she was sold.
And so something that she never imagined as a possibility - serving against the 49ers, in the Walter Pyramid with the Gauchos - two years ago, is going to take place tonight.
As for her mom, well ... she'll enjoy watching her youngest daughter in action a lot more when the Gauchos visit Long Beach on Thanksgiving weekend to play a couple of nonconference matches
"Then," Green said, smiling, "I can sit in the stands as a mom, watch her play and cheer like crazy."
And, yeah, Nicole might be doing a little cheering herself, of course.
NINER NOTES: The 49ers, who share the Big West lead with Cal Poly, are 12-5 overall and 6-1 in conference. The Gauchos are 7-12 and 2-5, and in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. Nicole Vargas (sore left foot) and senior middle blocker Alexis Crimes (sprained left ankle suffered in match a week ago tonight at Pacific) were held out of drills in practice this week for the 49ers but are expected to play tonight. But sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Naomi Washington will be sidelined for the remainder of the season because of the broken right ankle she suffered in the Saturday night match at UC Davis. It was initially believed that Washington had incurred a severe sprain but X-Rays proved otherwise and Washington was ruled out Tuesday morning. Freshmen Michelle Osunbor (who replaced Crimes Saturday and had three kills and seven assisted blocks) and Nicole Moore (who had two kills in her college debut Saturday) are expected to contend for the bulk of on-court time avail with Washington's absence. Senior middle blocker Brett Quirarte, a Wilson High graduate and two-time all-Big West selection., has a .333 attack percentage (fourth best in the conference) for the Gauchos.
