Autumn is not even human I swear @Apfinney ??? pic.twitter.com/iFxaJg9lGB
— mal☻ (@mallorydowne) October 21, 2017
One day you’re playing a match against a rival Texas high school, the next you’re seeing a video of that play on ESPN’s SC Top 10 and getting retweeted by hundreds of thousands, including gold medalist Kerri Walsh-Jennings.
It could happen to you. Not really, but it did happen to Decatur (TX) High School senior, Autumn Finney, who took flight Friday night and has yet to come to earth.
I have a feeling, regardless of how truly incredible THAT play was, that you make "big" plays quite often. Keep it up, @Apfinney ? #inspired https://t.co/KuDJngGJk7
— Kerri Walsh Jennings (@kerrileewalsh) October 22, 2017
You’ve seen the video by now (admit it, more than once), but VolleyMob wanted to learn more about the play, the celebration and the ensuing hoopla so we reached out to Autumn and her high school coach, Clark Oberle, to discuss. Here’s what we learned.
VM: Can you take us through the point?
Clark: It was a big point in the match, down two sets to nothing. We had a lead and we were trying to keep momentum. They had strong offensive players so defense was key at that point. Their best hitter was at middle and they set her. Our back row setter, Mallory Downe, got the first up and our libero, Payte Helton, dove to keep it off the ground. Then Autumn came out of nowhere from the front row and somehow got it over the net.
Autumn: I just remember kicking out to take an approach, then turning and seeing Payte on the ground with an amazing up and it just drives you because you don’t want to waste it. In a previous game, I had jumped over her and kicked her in the head so I was really focused on clearing her before I attempted to get the ball.
Clark: I want to stress it was a team effort. We try to stress that in everything we do, that it’s a team sport and not just one or two who make it happen. It took Mallory’s dig and Tayte’s up and Autumn’s save then we had to go back to the net and it took the whole team to make that happen.
VM: Who have you heard from? Any names stand out?
Autumn: Definitely Kerri Walsh-Jennings. Oh my gosh. Everything that’s happened after that is all extra—I remember sitting on my bed and I almost passed out: tears were in my eyes and I was so blown away she recognized me. It was amazing. She has been my role model since I knew what volleyball was. I’ve always watched her in the Olympics and holy cow.
VM: Any others?
Autumn: I still haven’t opened a lot of things. There are a lot of notifications. I don’t want to skip anyone.
VM: Was Monday’s practice your first since all of this went viral?
Autumn: Actually, we woke up bright and early that Saturday morning and had a practice from 8-9:30 am. But Monday’s practice was the first that was like, oh my goodness, this actually happened. That Saturday it was just cool and our coach had gotten a few emails from other coaches.
Clark: It went viral later on Saturday. I got an email from a recruiter just a few hours after Mallory put the initial video out and there were a couple of mentions on Twitter. Then we had practice so I didn’t pay attention. After that it was on CBS, ESPN and all of Sports Illustrated’s Twitter and Instagram sites. Yesterday afternoon, my wife and I were sitting just watching ESPN Twitter and the numbers were just rolling for likes and retweets, just rolling like old-fashioned gas pumps used to with the numbers just going and going. It’s just amazing.
VM: What does something like this tell people about women’s athletics in general?
Clark: I saw some comments yesterday on Twitter from people who have heard others say girls’ volleyball is boring or non-exciting or non-athletic then they see a play like this and obviously it’s exciting and obviously these female volleyball players are athletic.
Autumn: A lot of times people are told to just be your best. I’ve asked myself, “Who defines your best?” Is it what people think you can do or something you have to push yourself to be. My goal is to raise the bar and exceed expectations, better than what parents or coaches or anyone is saying.
VM: What does it tell a non-volleyball audience about the sport?
Clark: There were comments like, “why is that one girl wearing a different color jersey,” so I think people see this and become interested and it attracts attention to the sport and high school girls’ sports. It’s doing great things for the sport and for our program.
Autumn: I started playing volleyball at age 12. I like it because it’s not on you all the time. Everyone has a role and brings something different to the table. If one of your teammates is having a bad day, others can step up. We pick each other up as a team.
VM: What has been the reaction at school?
Clark: It has been amazing. I was almost late to every class because people wanted to stop and talk about how amazing that play was. We’re getting lots of support from the other sports and administration and all the teachers. We’ve got our last home game on Tuesday and I’m hoping we’ll pack the stands because everyone’s going to want to come see what Autumn does next.
VM: That’s a tough act to follow.
Clark: It sure is, but if anyone can do it, she can.
Still don't understand how this was possible… pic.twitter.com/6S4X9JmV5V
— Satasha Kostelecky (@satasha_k) October 21, 2017
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