Category Archives: 2003
Erika Beerbaum
in 1969 Erika pioneered and developed the first volleyball and basketball programs at Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford.
over the next three years as area programs expanded, she played an important role in helping to organize the first women’s division in the Housatonic League. in 1971 she moved across town to the new Mark T. Sheehan High School and again built strong volleyball and basketball programs.
During her years of coaching volleyball, her teams suffered only three losing seasons and many of her athletes who received league and state honors went on to play on the collegiate level. Sheehan was the Housatonic League runner-up in ’73 and ’76. In the state competition her team reached the regional final in ’73 and placed second in the 1976 Class M State Championship. Erika retired from coaching in 1980.
Bill Cobain
Bill was a women’s volleyball referee for over two decades. He refereed on both the high school and college level. He was an active member of the Connecticut Federation of Volleyball Officials and served for many terms as that organization’s secretary/treasurer. In addition to those duties, he serviced as an evaluator and scheduling coordinator for the board.
Bill’s enjoyment and enthusiasm for refereeing led to encouraging a number of his professional colleagues to become referees. Some of those friends remain active volleyball officials today.
Patty Doolittle Giannattasio
Patty began her volleyball career in 1974 as a freshman at Foran High School, coached by Edna Fraser. It was the first season that volleyball was played in the Fall. During her four years at Foran, her team finished fourth, third, second and won the state tournament. She lettered during her sophomore, junior and senior years and also captained the team her senior year. She was selected MVP her junior and senior years. In 1978 Patty received the Foran Athletic Assoc. Award, the Connecticut Scholar Athlete award and the Keystone Scholar Athlete Award. She received an athletic scholarship to the University of Rhode Island, where she captained the team her Junior and senior years. She graduated with distinction with a BA in psychology.
Patty has coached volleyball at Jonathon Law High School and Fitch High School. She initiated the volleyball program at Mitchell College in ’93 and has also coached at the US Coast Guard Academy.
Kate Sullivan
Kate began her volleyball career at Bloomfield High School where she competed for four years on the varsity level. She served as captain her junior and senior years. Upon graduation from high school in 1977, Kate studied at SCSU where she chose to try out for the volleyball team. She competed in the successful program for four year, as the team went 103-26. She served as captain during her junior and senior seasons. She was also named athlete of the week numerous times at SCSU.
Kate also played for the New Haven Dippers for eight seasons where she competed in two national tournaments. In 1981 and ’82 Kate worked at SCSU as the assistant volleyball coach to Joan Barbarich. She ran numerous high school volleyball clinics and was involved in coaching summer volleyball camps.
F. Tyson Krause
Tyson has a volleyball career rich in every facet of the game. Beginning with his days as a collegiate all star player at Springfield College, to coaching Boston College, Albertus Magnus and San Diego State University, where his teams consistently ranked nationally in the Top Ten in Division I. he received the FIVB Level 2 International Coaching certification as well as the USA Volleyball CAP 2 Coaching Certification.
Tyson founded and directed Score Promotions volleyball schools. At present he is founder and president of the Connecticut Junior Volleyball Assoc. The CJVA is a statewide program which has provided off season training for over seven thousand girls of varying skill levels. He is also owner of the Connecticut Sports Center in Woodbridge. The CSC is a 44,000 square foot facility dedicated to volleyball.
Eva Esposito
Eva started her volleyball career at Branford High School in her sophomore year. She earned a starting position the following year. In 1987 and ’88 she was selected to the All-Housatonic Volleyball Team and was selected as Branford’s MVP. In 1988, the team was Class M runner-up and Eva garnered Class M All-State honors. She led her team in kills, blocks and passing average. She was an honor roll student and was listed in the Who’s Who Among High School Students in 1989. She later attended the University of Hartford on a full basketball scholarship.
Eva presently teaches physical education at Eli Whitney Technical School and is head volleyball coach at East Haven High School.