Coupeville Sports

   Kyla Briscoe was a key player as a sophomore on last year’s girls’ hoops squad which went to state. (John Fisken photos)

   Briscoe, seen here last year with Sarah Wright (left) and Katrina McGranahan, is a two-year letter winner in volleyball.

Briscoe models her new cast Monday. (Amy Briscoe photo)

One bad step during the off-season will put the Coupeville High School volleyball squad down a player this year.

Junior Kyla Briscoe, a two-time letter winner for the Wolf spikers, ripped seven ligaments and two tendons in her left ankle during a summer volleyball camp.

Coming down after a block, she landed on another player’s foot and rolled her own ankle, hard.

A small smidgen of good news was delivered Monday, however, as Briscoe learned she wouldn’t need surgery.

Instead, she will wear a cast for the next three weeks.

After that, Briscoe is expected to move into a boot and begin rehab.

While it’s expected she’ll miss the entire volleyball season, and the chance to play a final season alongside older sister Tiffany, the lack of surgery might put her back in play for basketball season.

Kyla Briscoe saw her playing time steadily increase as her sophomore hoops season played out.

A scrappy player on both sides of the ball, she helped lead the Wolf basketball squad to its first state tourney berth in a decade.

CHS hoops coach David King was planning on keeping Briscoe actively involved in the program, regardless of her playing status.

She is currently slated to assist Sherry Roberts with Coupeville’s fall ball team.

“One thing she knows is the plays and how we as a team want to play,” King said. “That insight is invaluable.”

A few days back, when it appeared Briscoe might be out for a substantial period of time, her coach expressed regret.

“Not having Kyla is going to leave a huge hole within our team,” King said. “The growth towards the end of last season and this summer really allowed her to gain confidence in herself and her game.

“We were looking forward to having her full time on varsity and being a contributor in all facets of the game.”

Monday’s prognosis may brighten the outlook for King, however, depending on how fast Briscoe’s ankle mends itself.

For now, it’s a waiting game, though one with more of a silver lining than it might have seemed at first.