Heilborn continues family’s Auburn Riverside legacy

Published 3:00 pm Thursday, September 22, 2016

One detail stood out the first time Auburn Riverside coach Chris Leverenz visited Calley Heilborn’s home.

A volleyball net.

“It’s strung to a pole on one side and then there’s a tree on another,” Leverenz said. “The neighbors all come over and play volleyball. The Heilborn house is where it’s happening.”

A lot of volleyball, that is.

Heilborn’s older sister, Carson, starred for the Ravens before graduating in 2015, and is now a sophomore on the University of New Mexico’s volleyball team. Heilborn also has an older brother, Connor, and a younger sister, Camden.

While Leverenz said the Heilborn children all are different, there is a commonality between them.

“They’re respectful and they work hard for what they have,” she said.

That work ethic already is benefitting the latest Heilborn in the Ravens program. Calley has earned offers to play at Boise State, Western Washington and Wichita State. After this weekend, when Heilborn plans to visit Western Washington, she will have seen all three campuses. But Heilborn said she plans to be deliberate with her decision-making process because she still wants to learn more about all three schools.

Heilborn does not plan to join her sister at UNM – she said she wants her own college experience – but could play against her twice per season if she selects Boise State because both programs are members of the Mountain West Conference.

“Carson would be mad at me for saying this, but Calley’s a little bit more of an all-around player,” Leverenz said. “She can pass, play defense and set a little if she needed to. She hits well and serves tough. Those things developed in Carson’s time here, but Calley’s already got them down.”

The younger Heilborn, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter, also is proud that she now is an inch taller than her older sister. Height runs in the family: dad Karl is 6-4, and her mom, Caroline, is 5-11.

Heilborn said her dad, who was a recreational volleyball player at the University of Washington, introduced her to the sport as a youth. He also coached her at multiple levels. But Heilborn said the decision to play was hers.

“My parents never forced me to do any sports,” she said, adding that is the reason behind her love of the game. “It was my choice.”

And a decision that proved fruitful. In 2014, Heilborn celebrated a Class 3A state championship with her older sister. Auburn Riverside placed third last year.

“Everyone knew their role and wanted the same thing,” said Heilborn, referring to the success of the last two seasons. “Everyone was helping each other out.”

The Ravens will have to overcome some significant graduation losses, including Kiana Drumheller and Kasey Holand, as they move to North Puget Sound League 4A. But Heilborn likes what she sees so far.

“We have a couple of new freshmen and some transfers coming in and they’re really great,” she said.

Leverenz said those players and others follow Heilborn – and not just because of her talent.

“She’s a kid I gravitate toward off the court,” she said. “She’s funny and very worldly. You can tell she’s spent a lot of time around adults. She has very good insights.”

For now, most of those thoughts are focused on the court as some expect Auburn Mountainview, whose only two losses during the regular season last year were to Auburn Riverside, to challenge the Ravens for the NPSL 4A championship.

“Mountainview will be great competition,” Heilborn said. “They’re always really good.”

Auburn Riverside hosts the Lions in the regular-season finale for both schools at 7:15 p.m. Oct. 24. Heilborn is excited for that experience – and others.

“We have such good fans,” she said. “They’re always supporting us and cheering us on. It makes it so much more fun to play in the gym when the stands are packed.”