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Parents of Opposing Players with be Jumpy at the Walter
Pyramid
by Frank Burlison, Long Beach Press-Telegram
September 14, 2006
If you want to meet the most neutral "fans" in the Walter
Pyramid stands for tonight's Long Beach State vs. UNLV volleyball match,
track down Dan and Bonnie Miramontes and make their acquaintance.
Their neutrality exists, though, only in terms of not having a rooting
interest in the eventual winner of the 7:30 nonconference contest, which
pits the 8-2 Rebels and 7-2 host 49ers
They may feel it's out of place to pull for one team any harder than the
other tonight - and tonight only - but their focus will remain the same:
Dan and Bonnie will be rooting hard for their daughter to play extremely
well. Tonight, though, there will be two them on the floor - on opposite
sides of the net.
Robin and Lauren Miramontes spent three years as volleyball (and basketball)
teammates at Upland High and four years with the same Rancho Cucamonga
club volleyball program.
And, other than their parents and maybe older brother Kevin (a former
basketball player at UC Riverside who is finishing his teaching credential
while subbing in the Glendale School District), neither has a bigger fan
than the other.
That's not going to change tonight, even when Lauren, a UNLV middle blocker,
tries to prevent Robin, a Long Beach opposite (outside hitter) from hammering
the ball over the net for the 49ers.
"Obviously," Robin said, in mildly mock seriousness about tonight's
match, "I want us to kill them."
Then, with absolute sincerity, she quickly added "but, at the same
time, I want her (Lauren) to do well."
Their parents and other family members and friends were in Cox Pavilion
a year ago when the 49ers edged the host Rebels in five games in the first
match the Miramontes sisters had played against each other on the college,
prep or club level.
Lauren, a 6-foot-3 junior who was an All-Mountain West Conference selection
last season, had 13 kills, three digs and two block assists.
Robin came off the sidelines for just one brief appearance in the match
but, as a starter who has 70 kills, 20 assists, 67 digs and 18 block assists,
figures to have a much bigger role for her team tonight.
The sisters have cellular conversations "two or three times a week,"
according to Robin, and, naturally, exchange the usual college quota of
text messages.
"She is definitely excited (about the way she has been playing),"
said Lauren, a Hotel Administration major at UNLV. "But I know my
sister: all she cares about is doing whatever she can to help her team
do well."
If you assume the topic of tonight's match has been broached more than
once or twice in their conversations since the spring (when the match
was scheduled), pat yourself on the back.
Lauren and her teammates (which include sophomore setter Melody Nua, a
Lakewood High graduate), apparently are coming into the building tonight
determined that they will be leaving a few hours later with a victory.
"We talked (by telephone) Saturday night about the match," Robin
said, "and she said `some things' (demonstrating, apparently, that
confidence of knocking off the 49ers on their home floor). I was `OK,
that's fine. We'll see.' "
The UNLV program has never played in an NCAA Tournament and will be taking
on a counterpart with as rich a tournament tradition as exists in the
sport.
And that isn't lost on Lauren.
"I'm excited (about the match) not just because I'm playing against
Robin but because it's going to be in the (Walter) Pyramid," she
said.
"They have so much tradition and get such great support. I saw that
when I would watch Robin's matches when she was a freshman."
Lauren is equally proud of her sister's off-the-court accomplishments.
Robin Miramontes earned her Bachelor's degree (in Psychology) in just
three academic years and expects to have a Master's (in Kinesiology and
Sports Psychology) by the spring.
Her goal: a doctorate in psychology and a university teaching or administrative
position - maybe even at her alma mater.
"I've always looked up to her, although we are so close in age,"
Lauren said. "She is playing for the school she always wanted to
attend and getting her Master's. She has always been so positive and has
always had the best work ethic in anything she tried to do."
A couple of independent study classes in Kinesiology and the research
she's putting into her Master's thesis ("it's the psychology of injured
athletes") kept Robin from thinking too much about why tonight's
will be different than any other match this season.
That will end shortly after leaving the Walter Pyramid locker room for
warm-ups, though.
"It's probably not going to hit me until warm-ups and I see her on
the other side (of the net)," Robin said, sighing.
"It" will have hit their parents, both of whom work at Raytheon
(which manufactures space and airborne systems) in El Segundo, long before
they get to their seats tonight.
Approximately 40 friends and family members of the sisters will be seated
in the bleachers behind the benches.
"I usually at least wear something (to a match) with the school's
colors," Bonnie Miramontes said. "I'm not exactly sure how that's
going to work out (tonight). Maybe I'll switch clothes between games."
Her husband said he has nearly a closet full of UNLV and LBSU t-shirts.
"I've still got shirts from the girls' club teams," he said.
"But I won't be wearing any (UNLV or LBSU shirts tonight)."
As for the member of the Miramontes clan who is going to be enduring the
most pre-match jitters. . . how are you going to hold up, dad?
"I'm probably going to feel like I did when Robin was a freshman
(with the 49ers)," he said. "I was a nervous wreck. I had to
pace all around the Pyramid (before a match)."
He chuckled while relating the story of his daughters' first venture into
club volleyball and the discussion around the family's dinner table about
the investment that was involved.
"I remember when they were trying to convince us to spend the $1500
it would cost them to play club that season," he said.
It proved a solid down payment on the future.
"I turned out that volleyball will have paid for both their educations,"
he said.
And, of course, it also has provided for one nifty Miramontes reunion
tonight.
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