Coupeville Sports

Coupeville young gun Tenley Stuurmans (24) is a rising star on the volleyball court. (Sarah Stuurmans photos)

Iowa in July? The hub of volleyball.

Coupeville sisters Lyla and Tenley Stuurmans got a taste of high-level spikes and sets this past week, competing with their Puget Sound Region teammates at the USA Volleyball All-Star Championships.

Des Moines was the destination, with Washington’s crews going shot-for-shot with squads from multiple states across eight matches.

Lyla Stuurmans (middle) is in a groove.

Lyla, who will be a senior at CHS this fall, played for the U19 team, which went 3-5, while Tenley, a freshman, was in the thick of things for a U15 unit which finished 4-4.

Both squads earned second-place in the silver division.

Lyla and Tenley, who had to survive intensive tryouts to get the invitation to Iowa, saw plenty of floor time while quickly meshing with other talented players.

Tomorrow’s headliners, making waves today.

As mom Sarah noted, the week-long trip was a unique one, opening up a whole new world of volleyball for her daughters.

“As a parent the most notable thing that’s different from club or school athletics is that we really aren’t supposed to be around the kids,” she said.

“The purpose is to have a “college athlete experience” so they sleep, eat, and travel as a team.”

“Try and return this. I dare you.”

But the parental units did get to see a lot of high-level volleyball, while watching their daughters blossom in the spotlight.

“It’s the first tournament where I can look at any court and watch some awesome volleyball,” Sarah Stuurmans said.

“This was a really cool experience and the girl’s teams coaching staff were awesome.”

Cue the celebration.