Pair Of Pirates Treasure Their Love Of Volleyball

Thu., Sept. 28, 1995

Mike Vlahovich Staff Writer

Rogers High three-sport athletes Teana Scott and Mandy Flores have experienced the thrill of success and felt the sting of defeat.

But they wouldn’t trade the latter for the former if it somehow meant they had to give up their sport.

Volleyball is the one sport for which they have unrequited love, despite the fact that Rogers has won just five of the 38 league matches in which the girls have played.

“I don’t care if we win or lose, if I could play every day all day long, I would,” Scott said.

Flores admitted the losses can be frustrating.

“We’ve really improved,” she said of a team whose five wins in two seasons is considerably better than two wins the previous seven seasons. “It’s really heartbreaking losing close matches.”

But it hasn’t changed their feelings for the game.

Basketball and softball are just sports. Volleyball is ardor.

They were starters on the Pirate softball team that finished an unprecedented second in the AAA state tournament last spring. The euphoria followed a bitter experience with basketball which, given their continuing love for volleyball, had nothing to do with wins and losses.

Flores first played volleyball in the fourth grade at Whitman Elementary for Coach Tim Van Doren.

“He started talking to me, and I learned to love volleyball,” she said.

Scott credits her mother with her love of and involvement in sports.

“I’ve grown up without a dad, and she’s been my hero and best friend,” she said.

A 6-footer, Scott always had a dream of playing basketball until, she said, it was shot down as a freshman varsity player because of an adversarial relationship between the players and former Coach Angie Gibson.

“Volleyball has been my life since,” she said.

Flores and Scott played together on USVBA teams beginning in the seventh grade, except for last year. Scott joined a team of Ferris and Shadle players and traveled to a tournament in Las Vegas, Nev.

She made the Pirate varsity as a sophomore, and Flores joined midway through the season. They have been mainstays since, Scott as a middle and outside hitter, Flores as a defensive specialist, who now plays up front as well.

Both will play for new Coach Drew Vanderpool this winter.

They will be third-year starters on the softball team. Both played outfield for the state runners-up.

Because of her lack of height, Flores could probably have a better chance to play softball in college, but volleyball is what she would prefer.

Scott said she is looking to find a four-year college where she can play - volleyball, of course.

Tonight the Pirates are at Central Valley and Saturday at Shadle Park to complete the first half of the Greater Spokane League season.

Both are confident that wins can eventually come.

“We played hard against Ferris, the best we have all season,” said Flores.

But wins aren’t everything, added Scott. Enjoyment of playing the game with her teammates is.

“I don’t care about the results,” she said. “I have all the faith in the world and confidence in everybody.”

That’s what love is all about.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

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