Inland Empire girls’ volleyball: Vansant growing in stature

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My first sportswriting beat was the Long Beach State men’s volleyball team in the spring of 1992. The 49ers were the defending NCAA champions that season and had several players back, including Brent Hilliard, who went on to become NCAA player of the year that season and a member of the ’92 Olympic team, and Alan Knipe, currently the Long Beach State men’s volleyball coach.

What I’m trying to say is, I know a good brand of volleyball when I see it.

That’s why I was somewhat surprised to read about Krista Vansant, a 6-foot-3 freshman at Redlands East Valley who is one of the top players in the country for her age group. In the past, you’d only find a player of this caliber at a coastal school like Mira Costa or Newport Harbor. It’s good to see the sport’s talent base is broadening.

By the way, if you’d like to catch Vansant in action, the Broncos (30-2-1) travel to Cajon for a Division II-A second-round match tonight/Thursday at 7.

-- Dan Arritt