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Published on 09/29/1997 All articles from this issue

St. Francis too strong for Mountain View

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By Pete Borello

Town Crier Staff Writer

Mountain View High girls' volleyball coach Bonny Brunst felt a little funny before her team's league opener Sept. 23 against visiting St. Francis.

Not only was she about to go up against her alma mater for the first time, but former coach Dave Gambelin as well.

And to make things a little more weird, Brunst also was facing the sisters of two players she once played with at St. Francis.

When the match began, however, Brunst put all history aside and focused on coaching her team to victory.

But on this night, Gambelin's Lancers would prevail. St. Francis did so in straight games, 15-8, 15-9, 15-5.

Still, the night wasn't a total loss for Brunst.

"I knew a lot of the families there and we had a little reunion after the game," said Brunst, a 1993 graduate of St. Francis. "It was fun."

Gambelin said this was the first time he's coached against one of his former players at the high school level. He's discovered doing so is a double-edged sword.

"It makes me feel old," Gambelin said. "But it's nice to see a former player stay involved with the game and give back to the community."

Gambelin also was impressed by how Brunst has handled the Spartans, who are off to a 13-2 start.

"Bonny's done a good job with that team," he said. "They play hard and they're very scrappy. They're one of the top teams in the (Central Coast Section)."

Mountain View exemplified its never-say-die attitude against the Lancers. "

The Spartans rallied from a 9-0 deficit in the second game to get within 14-9.

Senior standouts Melanie Usas and Jodi Antypas led the comeback charge, but the hole proved too deep for Mountain View to climb out of.

St. Francis is the type of team that doesn't lose many leads, especially big ones.

The Lancers are considered among the top teams in the state and a near-lock to win the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

The team is led by All-American Niki Hartley, a senior middle blocker who has college recruiters drooling. She had 17 kills and five blocks against the Spartans.

Anna Kleinsorge, the Lancers' other starting middle blocker, also proved to be a thorn in Mountain View's side. The 6-foot-2 junior racked up 12 kills and seven blocks against the smaller Spartans.

"Niki and Anna were real intimidators at the net," Gambelin said.

St. Francis had little time to savor the win, though.

The Lancers played at the highly-competitive Nike/Las Vegas Invitational last weekend.

They placed fifth in the 16-team tournament, which drew some of the best teams on the West Coast.

St. Francis got off to a spectular start, winning all three of its matches on Friday.

Only one of these matches went three games.

The competition stiffened on Saturday, though.

The Lancers went 2-2 in the championship bracket.

St. Francis entered the week with a 6-2 overall record.

The Lancers host Monta Vista tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

Mountain View plays at Homestead next Tuesday at 7 p.m.