Latest Venice Volleyball

On the urging of one of her best friends, Kelsey McNamee, Autumn Duyn began playing volleyball in the sixth grade.  Duyn enjoyed the sport so much, two years later she wanted to play competitively on a club team.  There was only one problem. She was cut. Twice.  "It definitely discouraged me, but I kept going," Duyn said.  She finally made the Venetian Bay Club team and the traditionally powerful Venice High squad.

Duyn's persistence has paid off, as she is the Herald-Tribune Volleyball Player of the Year.

"I was really competitive as a little kid," Duyn said.

The youngest in a family with six brothers and sisters, Duyn attended The Leadership Academy, Heritage Christian School, Venice Christian and was home-schooled before going to Venice High. At 16, the junior is younger than most in her class, but has matured on the volleyball court.

Along with possessing one of the strong swings at outside hitter, Duyn developed her serve and improved her defensive play on the back row to make her one of the most well-rounded players in the area.

"I always try to swing as hard as I can," she said. "Sometimes it's a problem, because I'm not aiming anywhere and the ball goes wherever. Sometimes I have to control myself. It kind of comes naturally now."

During a practice when the Indians were not performing the drills correctly and were forced to run, Duyn thought maybe it was not the right sport for her.

"It was the worst practice," Duyn said. "We were running and running and I was about to cry because I didn't feel like doing it. We were running because we couldn't do a drill right. I was getting so mad."

She received some advice from teammate setter Taylor Capasso.

"After the practice, she told me what gets her through in those times," Duyn said. "It was Philippians 4:13. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

In addition, Indians coach Brian Wheatley uses his motivation skills on Duyn.

"He knows what makes me tick," Duyn said. He really knows what he's doing. When I'm not serving well, he'll say. 'Is that as hard as you can hit it? Is that all you've got?'"

Playing with a senior-laden Venice team that reached the Final 4, before losing to Tallahassee Leon to finish 21-9, Duyn is ready to take the leadership role for her senior season.

"I'll probably lead by example, because I'm probably not as vocal as I should be," Duyn said.

That should be good enough.