Double trouble: Pl. Grove pair excelling in 2 fall sports

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Sep 30, 2004 | by Jaclyn Olsen

PLEASANT GROVE -- Smart, tough and athletic, Allyce Wilson and Kortney Robinson are doing something other high school athletes only dream about -- playing two sports at high levels during the same season.

Wilson and Robinson are taking advantage of the rare flexibility afforded them of Pleasant Grove coaches, who want them on their prospective teams so badly they'll work around near-impossible schedules. The two juniors have been best friends since they were young children, following in the footsteps of parents who have been best friends all their lives. And they've been playing volleyball and tennis together since they were barely old enough to hit a ball or pick up a racket.

"It's funny to watch because they were all little kids playing together, and now they're in high school," said Sheryl Wilson, Allyce's mom and a well-rounded athlete herself, having coached the girls in recreational volleyball and softball.

Sports is a multi-generational, multi-event pastime in Allyce Wilson's family. Her 79-year-old maternal grandmother still competes in a tennis league, while her father -- a former collegiate baseball player -- coaches Little League and has a backyard batting cage that is a neighborhood magnet. Wilson followed in his footsteps and played shortstop for the Vikings last year under the tutelage of her uncle, Jeff Wilson. However, she did give up basketball last year to concentrate on her other sports.

"My family is all athletic," said Allyce Wilson. "That's what we do."

While Kortney Robinson doesn't come from quite the same sporting- family background, she's proven a whole lot of talent, hard work and her 6-foot frame are the key ingredients in playing at the highest prep level. Her mother was a swimmer, but other than that, her parents just give her all the support she needs.

"We don't push our kids, but we want to support them," said Kim Robinson, Kortney's mom. "She's responsible and independent. We feel fortunate we have a low-maintenance child."

The two girls took on a tremendous challenge when they couldn't decide which sport to play this fall and determined to tackle them both. They wake up, go to school, go to volleyball practice, go to tennis practice, do their homework and go to bed.

"Friday and Saturday nights are the only time we have to socialize," said Wilson. "But we're best friends, we still always go together."

Even with all their hard work, the girls couldn't do what they're doing without support and compromise from not only their coaches but others in the region state.

"It's our coaches," said Kortney Robinson. "Our tennis coach (Russ Mayo) is awesome. He changed practices to night practices to accommodate volleyball. A lot of other tennis coaches, especially in the region, have worked with us to help us do both. They'll allow us to play a half hour early or a half hour late to accommodate volleyball practice or volleyball matches."

Even with special accommodations, the two face decisions. They've missed two tennis matches this season, one because of a scheduling conflict that couldn't be reconciled and one because it was on the same day as their toughest volleyball match to date, as the top- ranked Vikings faced rival and No. 2 Lone Peak.

Both girls would like to play college volleyball, but Robinson has received more recruiting attention from greater distances. She harbors a wish to play in California, preferably at San Diego State or Pepperdine.

Unlike her tall frame, Wilson battles a volleyball handicap, being only 5-foot-2. But she couldn't receive more praise from Mike Daniel, her volleyball coach.

"Allyce is an elite athlete at whatever height, whatever weight. She's smart, tactical, does whatever it takes to win," he said. "Last year, she ran a 5-1 offense, and not having her in the rotation hurt us a lot worse than not having another blocker or another offensive player in the front row."

Meanwhile, Wilson is working on her jumping and, to her delight and Robinson's dismay, she blocked her best friend in practice recently.

"Volleyball is a challenge, especially with the net that's so high," said Wilson.

"She's getting up high enough to put up a block," said Daniel of his setter. "Allyce is a great libero, too -- a better defensive specialist than most other players."

He figures if recruiters would look past her height, they'd understand what she could bring to their teams.

Sheryl Wilson repeats what coaches have been telling her for years. "Allyce just provides the spark for a team. She's a real team player, coachable, always trying to lift someone else. She's every coach's dream."

Even Robinson's dad, Kurt, notes that he believes Allyce Wilson is the best athlete in the state.

Wilson hopes a college will take a chance on her despite her height, having noticed a few university players who are shorter than she is.

Not having to worry about height, Kortney Robinson does have to concern herself with other talented players at her position as opposite.

"She wanted a personal trainer last summer and went two to three nights a week all summer lifting weights and working out. She's really improved her stamina," said her father. She also added a necessary element to her volleyball that scouts look for.