Somerset — Every so often a true love story comes along.
Perhaps it shows up in a recent film or even in reality once in a while, but usually you hear of it from some distant land or at the very least a couple of counties over.
This story, however, this one is happening right here in Pulaski County.
At this point, being Valentine’s Day and all, you may be wondering why this story is staring you dead in the face from the sports section.
Well, this is a true “for love of the game” story as Pulaski County senior volleyball player Hollie Hranicky has proven that people still play sports because they love to play the game.
The off-season between her junior and senior year would be one of the most difficult periods of her life starting with an unknown sickness in November of 2006.
The diagnosis that came three grueling, test-filled months later would do so with a crushing blow.
Hollie would be diagnosed with a liver disease that causes the enlargement of the spleen called splenomegaly. Basically if your spleen were the size of a ping-pong ball – Hollie’s is the size of a softball.
The size, however, is not the only issue. The fact that Hollie’s spleen is on the outside of her rib cage causes bigger problems because if she were to take a direct hit in that area the risk of a rupture, obviously, rises to a very high percentage.
The first thing the doctor will tell someone with splenomegaly is – avoid sports and take it easy. This will help you avoid rupture.
That was a sentiment that never entered Hollie’s mind.
She had played volleyball since seventh grade. This was going to be her senior season, and she flat out loved to play. There had to be a way to play seeing as she had more than a will to do so, and you know what they say about wills and ways – if you’ve got one there’ll be one.
I know what you may be thinking. Don’t people get their spleens taken out all the time? Yes, but in Hollie’s case her spleen is required to pitch in to help out with her immune system.
A weaker person would say – oh well, guess I can’t play volleyball anymore.
Hollie didn’t even have to say the words. Her parents knew her character, as everyone who has spent more than two seconds around her can deduce – Hollie still wanted to be part of the team, still wanted to contribute and still wanted to play.
After a few months of investigation the Hranicky’s found out that a brace could be made to protect Hollie allowing her to continue playing, but her effectiveness then came into question as this nearly full-torso brace would hinder the flexibility that an outside hitter of any caliber would need.
That didn’t stop Hollie either.
She took it all in stride winning the prestigious Maroon Award for her senior campaign that almost wasn’t last season. The Maroon award is given to the Lady Maroon volleyball player that goes beyond the call and exemplifies leadership.
Coach Teresa Combs said that Hollie’s leadership was invaluable to her team this past season, and that she never complained – she just played.
Hollie not only got to play her senior season despite all odds, but will now go on to play at the next level as she signed a national letter of intent to play volleyball at St. Catherine College, a NAIA division one college in the Mid South conference, earlier this week.
St. Catherine Head coach Juanita Mangan said that the other players didn’t even notice that Hollie was wearing a brace at her tryout. Meaning she played so well that the hindrance of the brace hasn’t effected her effectiveness one bit.
In sports today we don’t often see players that play for the love of the game. Some say that high school sports is the last true display of such an ideal, and some would contend that even that statement is losing credibility.
Again, it’s only every once in a while that we hear of a true love story especially in sports today.
So, with all due respect to the Kevin Cosner film “For Love of the Game” about the aging pitcher that defies all odds to pitch a perfect game.
And no offense to His Airness and his coffee table biography also titled “For Love of the Game” that talks about what Michael Jordan overcame after being cut from his high school team.
The love and passion that Hollie has shown for her sport and her desire to play it, in the face of dire consequences, rivals as one of the greatest love stories of all time as Hollie Hranicky has shown TRUE LOVE for the game.
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