Indiana Gatorade Volleyball POTY Ali Hornung ready to join forces with older sister at Purdue
CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (BVM) — Ali Hornung is a decorated volleyball player with a Division I college future. But she is not the first in her family to do so, coming from a rich lineage of talented athletes.
“I came to know volleyball through my mom and I grew up watching my sisters play since I was born,” Hornung said. “It’s the ultimate team sport and that’s really something I love about it.”
Ali’s mother, Kelly, also played at Our Lady of Providence High School and later in college at Indiana University. Meanwhile, Ali’s sister, Jacquie, played at Providence as well and later collegiately at Bellarmine. Finally, Ali’s other older sister, Marissa, was also a star for the Pioneers in high school before following her mom’s footsteps to the Big Ten, now playing for Purdue.
“I think I’ve been the luckiest because I’ve gotten to watch both of my sisters from a pretty young age until they played in college,” Ali said. “Being able to watch them, learn things from them and pick up on things that you aren’t always taught by a coach has been really nice for me. My mom playing in high school and college has been a really nice thing as well because she can give us information from a parent perspective but also from a coaching and player perspective. She’s been through it and knows what she’s talking about. It’s really helpful and it’s really nice that all of us have been able to share that.”
Not only do the Hornungs have a tight family bond in the sport, but it is clear they all have elite talent on the volleyball court. Ali may be the youngest of the three daughters, but her skill set may very well be the greatest. Soon, she will join Marissa for one season together in college at Purdue.
“We only were able to play together on the same team for a year so far, but we always did lessons together and practiced together,” Ali noted. “That one year that we played together was one of my favorite years because I got to share it with her and I feel like I learned the most that year.
“I’m already in my third week at Purdue and having her here has been so helpful and has made it so much easier to transition to college. She’s just the ultimate teammate not only on the court but also off the court and that’s something I really love about her.”
Marissa was certainly an influence in Ali joining the Boilermakers, as she had plenty of significant offers, including one from defending national champion: Kentucky. However, it didn’t take long for Ali to make her decision, committing to Purdue as just a sophomore.
“I committed to Purdue the summer going into my sophomore year,” Ali explained. “I had it narrowed down to Purdue and Kentucky because I like being close to home and wanted to have my friends and family come watch me whenever they can. It was a really hard decision because both of those programs are really successful with a lot of good people. But I think Purdue is a better fit for me and it kind of just felt like I was supposed to be there. What really drew me here was the culture that they had and everyone here is just a great person.”
With Ali already spending a few weeks in West Lafayette, Ind., so far, she has continued to adjust to the college scene. By the start of the season, she will also look to make immediate contributions on the court for the Boilermakers.
“So far, the girls have been so welcoming and have made all of us freshmen feel so comfortable already,” Ali said. “I feel like I’m pretty much used to things already and have settled in. I’m really excited to start this season and it’s going to be such a fun experience. For this year, I just want to get used to the competition and do whatever my coaches and teammates need me to do to win a Big Ten title and national championship.”
Throughout her volleyball career, Ali has done whatever it takes to make her team successful, and often, that has been as the top player. Specifically, Ali has played for the Union club volleyball team, allowing her to learn the game with the same girls throughout her career. She also played up in age level throughout her club career, giving her added confidence game by game.
By the time Ali began at Providence High School, she knew it was time to not only follow in her family’s footsteps, but also make her own name for herself. As a freshman, Ali joined Marissa to help lead the Pioneers all the way to the state semifinals.
For Providence, the success is nothing new, as the girls volleyball team won three consecutive state championships from 2013-2015, finished runner up in 2016 and made it to the state semis again in 2017.
In 2018, Ali moved into a leadership role for the Pioneers, and the same success was had as Providence again made it to the final four. Despite falling short of the team’s recent success as a junior in 2019, the 5-foot-10 outside hitter still had a strong season in which she learned plenty on the court.
“Those two seasons were really pivotal for me in the mental game,” Ali said about her sophomore and junior campaigns. “I was also improving with my physical skills, but knowing I was going to take over the leadership role made my mental game tougher than it had been in the past.”
Her past three seasons set the stage for an incredible senior campaign. In 2020, Ali racked up 446 kills, 368 digs, 45 blocks and 28 service aces. The Pioneers went 23-7 overall, and made it to semistate.
In her career, Ali finished with over 1,700 kills, nearly 1,300 digs, 175 blocks, 141 assists, 108 service aces and a .349 hitting percentage. Although a state championship that her sisters had won may have eluded her, Ali’s success at Providence is nearly unmatched.
“Senior year was kind of nerve-wracking at first because we didn’t know if we would even finish our season,” Ali said. “We had a really successful year and a really tough loss at semistate, but that game was one of the most fun games I’ve ever been a part of. We made a lot of great memories in that game and through the whole season.
“I think a word to describe my time at Providence would be special. People don’t really know what it’s like to be part of the Providence volleyball program. Just knowing the people who played before me and getting to watch most of them is something I wouldn’t trade for the world.”
With her impressive senior season, Ali received plenty of accolades. Perhaps most notably, the outside hitter was named a first-team All-American by VolleyballMag.com, MaxPreps and Under Armour.
“Being a first-team All-American had been a personal goal of mine ever since Marissa got it her senior year,” Ali noted. “When I found out I was named an All-American, it was really special because that is something I had been working for.”
In the spring, Ali would receive another prestigious honor, as she was named Gatorade Indiana Volleyball Player of the Year. Not only did the award recognize her elite play on the court, but also her contributions off the court, including her impressive 4.46 weighted GPA, as well as her volunteer work at a soup kitchen, with the homeless, with youth volleyball teams and being part of her church ministry.
“That award was probably the most special because it wasn’t just for volleyball,” Ali said. “It was more how I am as a person and a student so it was extra special to know that part of my life had been recognized as well. I was really grateful when I got that; it was pretty awesome.”
Ali is now off at Purdue for what is expected to be another impressive four-year career. But the impact she and her family have left at Providence will not be forgotten anytime soon. For the Boilermaker freshman, being able to compete at such a storied program the past four years has been the ultimate honor.
“It is just a special place to be,” Ali concluded. “The tradition and the culture there is really something no other high school has. I’m thankful for my time there these last four years.”
