Just 2 of the Guys

BRIDGEWATER — It was a long Wednesday for Candice Guy. She spent the whole day thinking of what it was going to be like facing her sister Kala Guy on the volleyball court for the first time.

“The whole day I was a nervous wreck, “ said Candice Guy. “We have never played against each other. I spent the whole day just trying to fight the nerves.”

Candice is a junior at Bridgewater College while her younger sister is a freshman at Virginia Wesleyan. Both schools are members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Both were standout players at Wilson Memorial under coach Kim Claytor, and they were both able to play with each other on the varsity level for two seasons before Candice graduated in 2007.

As the players were introduced before the match, both received big ovations from the large crowd of supporters that were there to see the sisters do battle.

Candice and the Eagles were able to get the best of Kala and the Marlins winning the match 25-22, 25-15, 23-25, 26-24.

Candice started the match for the Eagles, while younger sister Kala watched from the sideline. Candice drilled a kill for the Eagles to give them a 6-4 lead and also added an ace in Game 1 to give Bridgewater the win 25-22 with Kala still watching from the bench.

In Game 2 Kala saw her first action of the night when she stepped onto the court to a loud cheer from her family and friends. She entered the game with Bridgewater up 17-8, to see her sister on the other side for the first time in her life.

“I kept trying to tell myself that wasn’t my sister,” Kala said. “I didn’t want it to affect me or hinder me from playing my game.”

Kala was swapped in-and-out all night long while Candice played the entire match for the Eagles.

Kala seemed to spark energy into her teammates as soon as she stepped onto the court and big sister Candice noticed the energy she brought to her team.

“It really sparked some life into them when Kala came into the game,” Candice stated. “I think my heart dropped when I saw her run onto the court knowing I was going against her for the first time.”

Probably the most anxious person in the crowd was Candice and Kala’s father Johnny Guy. He wore a T-shirt that said ‘we love them both’ with a picture of an eagle and a marlin to show his support for both of his girls.

“In this situation I couldn’t root for a team. I had to cheer for my girls and hope they each play their best,” Johnny Guy said. “It was a moment that I think they both dreamed of, but feared.”