Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2019)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2019 | 3B Viks from 1B year we were ranked 22nd and we lost, so we knew we were done.” But on Wednesday, they were back in the waiting game. “It’s kind of cool,” Hornung said. “There wasn’t an end. I appreciate that. I also appreciate that they want to keep playing. On Monday, I talked to them like this is our last practice. The regular sea- son ends on Tuesday, Monday can be it. But some of the kids were like, ‘Can we practice on Wednesday?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I guess if you want to.’” This could have been a wrap-up interview for the season, so Hornung remi- nisced about the past. “Honestly, this has been the best season I’ve ever coached,” he said. “The girls went out every single game, smiling and having fun. This team wants to be together, and they want to play together. This is the only time that I can say I have a volleyball team that is not six individuals, it is one team. Win-lose-or- draw, they go up as a team, they go down as a team. They are thick-and-thin, six players that play as one.” But that team is made up of individuals, and Hornung took the time to talk about each one. Senior Mia Collins is “the quintessential volley- ball player,” Hornung said. “She’s been with me since I started coaching, and I don’t think she knows how much she means to the program. From seventh grade up to the seniors, so many people look up to her.” Seventh graders come up to Hornung and say, “I want to be like Mia. I want JARED ANDERSON/SIUSLAW NEWS The Siuslaw Vikings volleyball team will face Astoria this Tuesday in the opening round of state playoffs. to hit the ball and play defense like Mia.” But according to Hornung, Collins doesn’t realize her impact on the program — she views herself as just a volleyball player. “I don’t think she has any idea that she’s convinc- ing kids to work harder and play club because they see her on the court,” Hornung said. “You can have 50 kills a match, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is you going up to a seventh grader and giving them a hug and a high-five and seeing that kid light up. There’s so much more to being a player than just being on the court. I’m going to miss the hell out of her.” He also said he was going to miss the hell out of senior Elissa Hurley, who is a testament to “busting your but and how good you can get if you work hard.” During her sophomore year, then JV player Hurley went up to Hornung and asked if she would make varsity the next year. At the level of play she was at, it wasn’t looking good. “She took that as moti- vation to come to every single open gym and every single summer practice we had,” Hornung said. They worked all summer long, dialed in her approach, and “she played unbelievably.” But after her junior year, Hurley tore her ACL and was told that it would take a year to recuperate, miss- ing her senior year. “There goes volleyball,” Hornung said. “But over the summer, she said if she worked hard, she might be cleared in August. So, there’s that shred of hope that maybe she would play.” Walk-In Tubs WALK- IN BATHTUB SALE! SAVE $1,500 Just a week before try- outs, she was cleared, and went on to gain 93 kills so far this year. Hornung called it unbelievable. “The legacy she going to leave is so positive and all these girls are going to build off of it,” he said. Graduating junior Lindsey Long doesn’t have a cell phone, which was a problem when Hornung was attempting to get her on the team this year. “We weren’t sure if she was going to try out, wasn’t sure if she was going to come back,” he said. “I get to tryouts and she’s just standing there, saying, ‘Hey, ready for volleyball.’ I was so excited when I saw her. I knew she could do it.” Hornung called Long a sponge for learning, going hard after every single practice and “just bust her butt and working so hard to get better. “She’ll make a mistake, turn, and say, ‘How can I fix that?’” For the players will be returning next year, junior Kya Blake was a total sur- prise for Hornung. “I had no idea what she was going to be this year. … . She’s had some huge games. She’s one kid who, if you’ll give her a shot, she’s going to go for it. I’ve been super happy with her. I never expected her to be an outside hitter and getting the number of hits she did and playing as well as is. She’s been awesome.” Hornung called junior Delaney Foglio “a happy kid and I love her to death.” Foglio had some injuries this year that prevented her from finishing out varsity. Instead, she’s been pushing herself on JV. “For a lot of girls, and this has happened in the past, when they get hurt and moved down to JV, they quit,” Hornung said. “But Delany took it in stride,” Hornung said. “My hope is that she’ll use this to get better, to push her- self in the off season and come back stronger.” Hornung views sopho- more Hayden Muller as a “little version” of himself. “She sees the court simi- lar to how I do. She’s been so much fun to play with and coach,” he said. “She’s had an awesome year. There’s no question in my mind that she will be the greatest defensive player for Siuslaw. She’s at 270 digs, which is unbelievable. To think about how many balls that could have been kills, that she saved points, is just crazy. She’s rolling on the ground, diving. I can’t imagine how bruised up she is. But she’s just such a cool kid.” Sophomore Zoe Alberty’s positivity keeps things going. After a few games where the team was burned out and frustrated, Alberty came up to Hornung and said, “Even if we lose every game this Let me Showcase your property. Lifetime Warranty! Finance Options Available * EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST! Only American Standard has OVER 140 years of experience and offers the Liberation Walk-In Bathtub. SUPERIOR DESIGN! Ultra low easy entry and exit design, wide door, built-in safety bar and textured floor provides a safer bathing experience. Melody Beaudro Principal Broker 541 991-2151 Ocean View Dr #7400 – Build your dream home to accentuate the ocean, river, and city views! Elevated lot ready for your house plans. Gated community of custom homes and underground utilities enhance your living experience. Adjacent lot also for sale. $50,000. #2760-17457532 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 PATENTED QUICK-DRAIN ® TECHNOLOGY LIFETIME WARRANTY! The ONLY Lifetime Warranty on the bath AND installation, INCLUDING labor backed by American Standard. 44 HYDROTHERAPY JETS! More than any other tub we’ve seen. FREE! Savings Include an American Standard Right Height Toilet FREE! ($500 Value) FREE! An In-Home Evaluation Will Be Scheduled At Your Earliest Convenience Limited Time Offer! Call Today! 844-888-3877 Or visit: www.walkintubinfo.com/siuslaw Discount applied at time of purchase. Terms and Conditions Apply. * Subject to 3rd party credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. Receive a free American Standard Cadet Toilet with full installation of a Liberation Walk-In Bath, Liberation Shower, or Deluxe Shower. Offer valid only while supplies last. Limit one per household. Must be first time purchaser. All offers subject to change prior to purchase. See www.AmericanStandardBathtubs.com for other restrictions and for licensing, warranty, and company information. * CSLB B982796; Suffolk NY:5543IH; NYC:HIC#2022748-DCA. Safety Tubs Co. LLC does not sell in Nassau NY, Westchester NY, Putnam NY, Rockland NY. In 2019 we will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of our business in Florence. It is time to express the appreciation and gratitude we feel, and have always felt, for the friendship, trust and loyalty of those who live in this community. It is your confi dence in us and your continued patronage that has made these 80 years such a pleasurable experience. Th ank you. Johnston Motor Company Since 1939 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 season, I still think we’re going to have a lot of fun.” “I reminded her of that last night after the game, and asked her if she had fun,” Hornung said. “She said, ‘Oh yeah, I had a blast.’ … Throughout it all, she’s maintained that posi- tivity and has maintained that mental game of volley- ball. I love pushing her because she can take it and keep going.” Freshman Desi Tupua is an animal on the court, said Hornung. “Desi exceeded every single expectation I have had for her,” Hornung said. “She’s at 177 kills right now. To think that she’s been on varsity for less than two months is unbelievable. When she got a huge kill last night, she just went nuts. The skies the limit on how good she can be, but I don’t think she even knows it. That’s my favorite part of her.” Finally, freshman Hailee Outlaw has been a “breath of fresh air.” Over the sum- mer, Hornung talked about getting Outlaw’s feet wet, playing JV, learning the ropes. Then a varsity injury forced Outlaw to be on the team, and she’s been killing it ever since. “Generally, kids who are young don’t want to make mistakes,” Hornung explained. “They don’t want to be in those big pressure situations, but she’s going to swing hard no matter what.” But Outlaw has been fearless. “She has a different gear she somehow manages to find when she’s in a game,” Hornung said. “When the game starts, you know she’s going to go hard. Every set, she’s going to crush it. I never expected her to be where she is now.” Last Tuesday night also saw three JV players take the court — Hali Corbin, Gracie Perkins and Alizabeth Norton — all of whom have been working hard throughout the sea- son to bring the Viks where they are now. As for the playoffs, Hornung said, “I don’t think teams will know what to expect because we’re so young. We can beat anyone. We can walk into a gym, playing any team in the state, and we could beat them. If we’re on fire, we can go into a gym and win. This is a team I think that can win. I wouldn’t bet against us.” Little from 1B What happens to this champagne? I’m guess- ing it’s probably con- sumed to drown the ag- ony of defeat. Professional athletes are role models for mil- lions of young athletes. Winning or losing is not the time to demonstrate the use of alcohol as a means of expression. Th e media seems to relish in showing con- troversial social issues. Is there a responsibility for professional leagues to limit negative behav- iors? Of course, there are many players los- ing honors and playing time for behavior that tarnishes their team, the league and themselves. Too many young ath- letes have lost their lives and health from alcohol, yet champagne cele- brations are still taking place. Wake up professional leagues and limit these wild celebratory victory parties.
