Color Change

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Courtney Rapp wasn’t the least bit nervous.

With her long blond hair pulled back into a ponytail with a black bow, the senior setter felt right at home at Lakewood Ranch.

It was where she believed she was meant to be.

Rapp had played countless volleyball games in the Mustangs gymnasium, but up until this season, she had always been on the other side of the net.

After spending the past three years playing for Braden River, Rapp moved over to Lakewood Ranch this season after her family moved to the area. It was a relatively smooth transition for Rapp, who also is attending State College of Florida classes this year.

Rapp was already friends with many of her Lady Mustang teammates, including fellow senior outside hitter Nicole Grant, with whom she also plays club volleyball.

“It’s not weird or awkward,” Rapp says. “The team is like a big family. We all get along really well. It felt like I had been here awhile. We all clicked right away.”

Grant, who has developed an on-court chemistry with Rapp since the two began playing together at the Coastline Volleyball Club, was eager to have her club teammate and one of her best friends join the team.

“It was awesome,” Grant says. “She’s really talented, and she brings something new to the team.”

Trading in her maroon and black for her former rival’s green and black, Rapp took the court for the first time against her former team Sept. 9 — much to the displeasure of the Pirates faithful who had become accustomed to Rapp’s talent and leadership on the court.

Rapp put together one of her best matches of the season, finishing with 39 assists and seven digs as the host Lady Mustangs defeated their district rival 25-17, 25-7, 25-11.

“We have great fans, and it’s better to be on the side with the Lakewood fans than against them,” Rapp said. “It can be scary on the other side.”

A former cheerleader, Rapp began playing volleyball seriously in seventh grade after watching her older sister, Hailey, play. Since then, Rapp has become one of the area’s premier setters.

Replacing four-year starting setter Ali Milbourn, who graduated last year, Rapp has helped lead the Lady Mustangs to a 4-2 record and a perfect 3-0 start in Class 7A-District 10. Lakewood returns to district action Sept. 17 at North Port before playing host to Sarasota, last year’s district runner-up, Sept. 18.

Rapp will make her return to Braden River Oct. 2 when the Lady Mustangs and Lady Pirates meet for their second regular-season match — one that could have tournament implications, because the top seeds in the district will host tournament matches when the district tournament begins the week of Oct. 20.

“Beating Braden River means that we are one step closer to going to states,” said Rapp, who is hoping to win her first district championship this season.

By the numbers
3 - The number of seasons Rapp spent at Braden River before transferring to Lakewood Ranch this season.

0 - The number of district games Lakewood Ranch has lost so far this season after sweeping Sarasota, Palmetto and Braden River.

39 - The number of assists Rapp recorded in her first game against her former team.

7 - The grade Rapp was in when she started taking volleyball seriously.

1 - The number of seasons Rapp spent playing libero before switching back to setter.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].