Countryside plans to lean on its forceful outside hitter, just as it did the previous three seasons.
By BOB PUTNAM
Published August 29, 2003
CLEARWATER - Hovering above the net, Beverly Stasis hammers the volleyball through her opponents' outstretched hands, slams it into their shoulders and pounds it into their astonished faces.
As expected, those crushing, gasp-inducing blows often cause a lot of pain.
Not for her opponents.
For herself.
After most matches, Stasis' body aches from the wear and tear of constantly flying through the air and swinging hard every time the ball is fed to her.
"It's just overuse," Stasis said. "I have to ice down my shoulder down quite a bit."
The go-to player at Countryside, Stasis has been the one other players turn to for wisdom for three years.
It wasn't a title she figured to have so soon.
As a freshman in 2000 Stasis, an outside hitter, helped the Cougars reach the state semifinals. That season, she was accepted to the medical magnet program at Palm Harbor University.
Stasis decided to stay at Countryside. Part of the reason was five of six starters were returning, including close friend Katelen Dixon. The two attended Curlew Creek Elementary and Palm Harbor Middle School before coming to Countryside and figured to play together for the next three years.
Or so it seemed.
Dixon transferred to Mitchell before 2001, and another starter decided not to play. Then more starters graduated and transferred. So instead of being surrounded by veterans, Stasis has played on a team picked apart the past three years and shouldered the responsibility of leadership.
"Beverly had a heavy burden placed on her," Countryside coach Kaylyn Bayly said. "She was the captain, and I'm sure she felt she had to make every play."
To alleviate the problem, the Cougars are finding ways to prevent the offense from revolving solely around her.
"We have six seniors and seven juniors," Bayly said. "This team has gotten better, and we're stronger. We have more options."
Still, there's little question who the Cougars turn to at crunch time.
"She's their hammer," Clearwater coach Lynn Hallmark said. "She would have to be the odds-on favorite for player of the year. From what I've heard, she's gotten better over the summer, if that's possible."
Stasis made sure she was ready by playing with the Tampa Bay Junior under-17 club team, implementing a weight training program and relying more on her abdominal muscles instead of her back and shoulder.
"I'm trying to relax, stay in shape and have fun this season," Stasis said. "It sure would be nice to get back to the state tournament again, but all I'm focused on is making myself and my teammates better."
