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Friday, January 9, 1998
Gaston sisters are Lumberton's first family
of volleyball
By BRAD McBRIDE / Beaumont Enterprise
LUMBERTON, Texas -- Six years ago, a yellow moving van slowly
backed into the driveway beside a new mobile home.
It drew the usual curious glances of neighbors and passers-by.
They watched as the Gaston family -- Bobby, Caroline and their
three daughters -- hopped out and began unloading possessions.
A sofa. Big boxes of clothes. The television set. All were
part of the procession of things being relocated.
But something notable was missing:
There wasn't a volleyball in the truck.
Until the Gastons reached their new home, volleyball had been
nothing more than Monday night recreation for adults at their
church.
"Sometimes we would throw the ball over the net back then,"
Caroline Gaston remembered. "We would let the girls serve
sometimes just to get them to stop asking us."
Volleyball has developed from a diversion into an obsession
for the Gaston sisters -- Lisa, Stacy and Kara -- over the last
six years. They have become the hometown First Family of volleyball
through their individual accomplishments and by helping Lumberton
become a volleyball power.
Lisa started for Lamar's Sun Belt Conference championship team
this season, while Stacy is the Most Valuable Player of The Enterprise's
Super Gold Volleyball Team and Kara is the Newcomer-of-the-Year.
"Now, when people say something about us, they associate
our name with volleyball," Stacy said. "It's neat to
hear that. But I wonder, if Lisa hadn't got into it, whether the
rest of us would have started."
Lisa, the oldest sister, was a freshman when the Gastons moved
from Beaumont. She had to make new friends and adjust from a private
school to a public school setting. And she had to find a new identity.
"I knew I wasn't a dancer. I tried everything: track,
basketball and volleyball. My sophomore year I played softball,"
Lisa said. "I decided the sport I was best at was what I
wanted to play."
Although Lisa had little experience with volleyball, it didn't
take long to discover that was where her athletic talent was.
Lisa's hand-eye coordination and leaping ability were immediately
evident.
Lisa's success and a friend's invitation convinced Stacy to
compete in Junior Olympics volleyball the following summer. Stacy
didn't know much about the rules, but she also showed a quick
aptitude for the sport.
Then one thing led to another.
"(Lumberton) Coach (Connie) Basinger found out about my
younger sister and she asked me, ÔHow good is she? Is she
ready for varsity?' " Stacy said. "I guess she figured
it was in the genes."
Kara could become the best of the three. She already has a
leg-up on her sisters. While Lisa and Stacy began playing volleyball
later than many of their teammates and opponents, Kara started
earlier.
Lisa and Stacy claim Kara is developing faster as a result.
And that's been apparent for several years.
For example, in junior high, Kara once served for 15 points
straight in the first game, then the next five in the second match.
"My coach took me out," Kara said, prodded into telling
the story by her sisters. "She said it wasn't sportsmanlike
to leave me in there."
Each sister has been an important part of Lumberton becoming
a force in local volleyball. Lisa (then a senior) and Stacy (then
a sophomore) helped Lumberton win its first district title in
over 10 years in 1995.
Stacy and Kara have helped keep Lumberton on top. The Raiders
have now been to the playoffs three consecutive seasons.
"They're really dedicated, hard workers with good practice
skills," Basinger said. "We've had a lot of great players
who have worked hard to be part of our success.
"But the fact that the Gastons are exceptional players
and are also sisters is neat."
Lisa and Stacy didn't get along well when they played together,
but Stacy and Kara have formed a good team on and off the court.
All three sisters have become closer. Each helps their father
with building houses. Their jobs and volleyball always provide
something for them to do together or to talk about.
Now, during the off-season, Lisa is Stacy's Junior Olympics
volleyball coach. Kara is too young to play on the same team.
Stacy enjoys being on Lisa's team this season because, next
year, she knows they might play on different teams.
Stacy is being recruited to play volleyball by both Lamar and
its future Southland Conference rival, McNeese.
"I could have to play against Lisa next year," Stacy
said. "That would be really weird to see her playing on the
other side of the net."
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Distributed by The Associated Press
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