Friday, Aug. 29, 2008

Ripon volleyball rivalry a fun one

Indians' Duren and Knights' Terpstra all business on court, but friends after final whistle

RIPON -- Andrea Terpstra towers over Kirsten Duren when the two stare across the net at each other, but that disparity disappears when they take to the air.

The 5-foot-3-inch Duren, using her powerful legs to vault herself above the net, can get anything the 6-2 Terpstra sends her way.

"Looking at Kirsten, you probably ask what she's doing playing at the net," Terpstra said. "Then you see her jump, and it's amazing. She's an awesome athlete."

The same can be said for Terpstra, who considers Duren her opponent, teammate and friend -- and neighbor.

Both are going into their final high school season, Duren at Ripon and Terpstra at Ripon Christian, and both have verbally accepted athletic scholarships. Terpstra (University of the Pacific) and Duren (Boise State) will meet at least twice this season.

"It gets intense when we play each other, but afterward, we're back to being friends," Terpstra said. "Our schools are across the street, and we both have good volleyball programs, so we're usually playing for something big."

Ripon edged the rival Knights for the Trans-Valley League title a year ago, and the Indians are pegged as the favorites again.

"We went to the (Northern California) playoffs last year, and we want to go further this year," Duren said. "Our goals are the TVL title, the (Sac-Joaquin Section) title and top eight in the state."

Lofty goals, indeed, but they appear attainable with Duren and All-District setter Meredith Perkins leading a talented squad.

RC, meanwhile, has All-District setter Candice Adema to pair with Terpstra. The Knights also reached the regional playoffs last season -- RC is in Division V, for the smallest schools, and Ripon plays Division IV -- and has expectations similar to Ripon.

"People are always comparing us to each other," Terpstra said, pointing to the rivalry between schools as well as herself and Duren. "Anytime we're playing Ripon, we want to kick their butt."

If any animosity does arise in the fall, it fades in the summer, when the two are teammates with the Delta Valley Volleyball Club. They led the under-17 team to a bronze medal in July at the Junior Olympics and earned spots on the all-tournament team.

While Terpstra likely will remain a middle blocker at Pacific, this will be Duren's final season at outside hitter. The Bee's Player of the Year last fall, she'll be a full-time setter for Boise State.

"I began playing when I was 11 and learned early that I had to be smart because other girls would be taller," said Duren, a four-year varsity starter. "Some hitters pound it as hard as possible, but they're not accurate. I was taught it's better to place. I'll see the court as I approach the net, and when I go up for the hit, I've got a good idea of where I'm placing the ball."

Duren was the district's best a year ago, but Terpstra likely will challenge for that title this year.

A standout for RC's basketball team, Terpstra gave it up last season so she could focus on volleyball. She began moving up the recruiting lists, and her reward was a scholarship offer at UOP.

"Kirsten moves back and forth and does some setting, but all my focus is at the net," Terpstra noted. "While she tries to find a spot on the floor to hit it, I'm looking to see where she's going to be so I can get there to block the hit."