My Volleyball Story: Kelly Horning

Each Wednesday throughout the summer, Montana volleyball student-athletes and coaches will tell their volleyball stories. Read, in their own words, what the sport means to them and where their passion and drive comes from.

My Volleyball Story: Kelly Horning

Kelly Horning_high school

When I was in first grade, I started playing parks and rec volleyball. I didn't particularly like it that much, but my mom played in college and I didn't want her to be disappointed in me, so I played anyway. I then began playing club volleyball in third grade, and I remember thinking I was special because I got to play for a club team. One thing I didn't understand at the time was that you don't have to be invited to try out for club, and anyone can do it, so I'm glad I finally had that realization.

I'm not quite sure when my love for volleyball started, because at that age, I was also playing basketball, and that was the sport I loved. I can't pinpoint when, but maybe around sixth grade, I realized I could love both.

Kelly Horning

By then, volleyball wasn't just a fun hobby to me, but instead was something I wanted to do in college. I remember from that point forward telling people I was going to play college basketball or volleyball, and striving to do that.

Kelly Horning

I think one of my favorite stories is when I was in sixth grade and my teacher asked the class what we wanted to be doing in a couple of years. I told her I wanted to play a sport in college. She looked at me and said, 'OK, so what are you going to do when that doesn't happen?'.

I remember being so sad because teachers are supposed to be supportive. I still think back to what she said all of the time, and think about how those words have helped me get to where I am today.

July 1 – My Volleyball Story: Hallisey
June 24 – My Volleyball Story: Moreno
June 17 – My Volleyball Story: Garrido
June 10 – My Volleyball Story: Vander Ploeg
June 3 – My Volleyball Story: Godwin
May 27 – My Volleyball Story: Gleasman
May 20 – My Volleyball Story: Nestegard
May 13 – My Volleyball Story: Semadeni

University of Montana Athletics

Players Mentioned

Kelly Horning

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