SPORTS

even further. She had the pleasure of coaching several of her children. Beyond that, she often coached against Strawn in high school, as well as in club volleyball.

This connection makes continuing the family-oriented program that much easier for Hiapo.

However, even though the transition of leadership has been seamless, this young season has seen its fair share of challenges. When that happens, the returning varsity players do what they can to ease the transition.

Junior, Jazlyn Jackson has been on varsity since she was a freshman and is enjoying the process.

“It’s been very different, but I think different is good,” Jackson said. “We have a lot to work on, like getting out of our own heads. The physicality is there, but volleyball is really mental, and we still need to get better in that area.”

The junior outside hitter has been with both Strawn and now Hiapo as head coaches. She’s seen some similarities between the two.

“I like that it’s very family-oriented,” Jackson said. “She’s big on all of us coming together, freshman and JV, too, not

LOPEZ ���� ���� 26

friendly with the players, he keeps it serious when it’s necessary. Lopez notices his son’s leadership around the team.

“He’s upfront and forward,” Lopez said. “He is a leader and is very straightforward with (the players). He’ll let them know when you need to improve your game because at the next level you’re going to be exposed.”

When Roy Jr. is away from practice, he always checks up with Lopez to get updates on how the team is doing.

“He loves the boys. It’s crazy he always asks ‘how do we feel this week? Are we prepared?’” Lopez said. “It’s always about ‘we’ with him.”

Roy Jr. has been around the game of football since he could walk. He was always around his dad when he was coaching at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe. Lopez noted how his son would follow him around the football �ield.

Lopez described Roy Jr. as his shadow while he coached for the Padres. And Lopez repaid the favor by supporting his son in all his football journeys. The players in the Mesa volleyball program have started to adjust to Vee Hiapo’s intense coaching style. Many said it challenged them to become leaders. (Pablo Robles/Tribune Sta ) just varsity.”

When an underclassman makes varsity, the family-oriented style becomes that much more important for a new coach taking over. As usual, the hardest part is getting the upperclassmen to get on board. For a �irst-time varsity player, the sky is the limit on the impact Hiapo can have on them. Freshman Sally Cummard is getting her �irst taste as a high school varsity volleyball player. She has an older sister, as well as cousins who are on the team, too. “I was not expecting to make varsity coming in as a freshman, but it has been really cool to play with my sister and cousins �inally,” Cummard said. With their previous experience with

Roy Lopez Sr. said his son constantly checks in on the team, asking how practices, games and other team activities went. Lopez said he refers to the team as ‘we,’ showing his desire to be a part of it despite playing for the Houston Texans. (Kaiden Fesler/Tribune Contributor)

He is proud of Roy Jr.’s ability to grow so much in football.

“It’s crazy to see how he’s evolved to the next level. From college obviously to professional,” Lopez said. “You look back and see how he has �lourished, it’s because he lived it for all these years.” The Desert Ridge football team is taking Roy Jr’s inspiration to heart. After a slow start against Hamilton in Week 1, the team has gone on a winning streak as of late. As the season progresses, it’s still to be determined if Roy Jr.’s advice to the team will help them continue their run of success and get back into the playoffs for the �irst time since 2019.

Lucas Gordon is a sports journalism student at Arizona State University covering Desert Ridge High School Athletics. ■

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Strawn, Cummard is thankful she got to play under her for one club season.

Now in high school, she gets a new opportunity with a new head coach. “It’s de�initely different than what my sister experienced,” Cummard said.

Hiapo is very soft-spoken off the court, but her passion is obvious when you see her on the bench. Cummard said her �ierceness has been hard to get used to. But the girls are beginning to embrace it.

That, along with other qualities, have helped players like Jackson become more than just a player.

“I think she’s helped me become a leader, the last two years I did not lead much as an underclassman,” Jackson said.

While Hiapo recognizes the importance of instituting her own culture with the program, she recognizes the history of Mesa and wants that to remain unchanged.

It may only be the beginning of Hiapo’s journey with the Jackrabbits, but the culture is already setting in.

She believes that’s a sign of good things to come.

“I want to enhance what they’ve already had for years,” Hiapo said. “This is one of the best programs I’ve taught at, and now (I get) to teach them to win a state championship.” ■

Have an interesting sports story? Contact Zach Alvira at zalvira@timespublications.com and follow him on Twitter @ZachAlvira.

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Zombies make their way to equestrian center

BY MALLORY GLEICH Get Out Contributor

Remember back when the pandemic �irst hit Arizona, and some were convinced that this catastrophic event could result in, well, zombies? Well, while that hasn’t happened, October is the perfect month to pretend that zombies are real and you can �ind them at the KOLI Equestrian Center, 6940 W. Broken Ear Road, Chandler. KOLI provides year-round horseback riding for anyone looking to enjoy beautiful views. But on weekends between Oct. 8 and Nov. 7, the scenery takes a turn for the worse as a zombie outbreak occurs at various times Fridays through Sundays. And because the point of �inding zombies is to get rid of them, KOLI is holding “The Hunt: Arizona Zombie Assault.” Organizers of the hunt have provided the back story “There was a viral outbreak in 2019. A rare virus spread across the country. This virus has been reawakening dead people into zombies after their vaccine wore off. “This reaction was unknown to the masses and needs to be stopped. We need you to help us conduct a hunt of these infected zombies before they re-infect the population. Send these zombies back to the grave!” Guests board a military-style vehicle (also known as a zombie assault vehicle) and head to a double-decker trailer. The �irst station is where they receive ammo, which comes in the form of paintballs. After a mission brie�ing, guests head out into the desert in search of the undead. Arizona Zombie Assault was once known as Zombie Warz and was the brainchild of Utah-based Wayne Park. Park had the idea for a zombie hunt back in 2015 and decided that the desert landscape of our state would be better suited than his home. He headed to Wild Horse Pass and eventually Maricopa Wells, where the hunt was open for three years until it shut Zombies were hired several months in advance of the coming zombie hunt at KOLI Equestrian Center in Chandler. (Special to the Tribune)

down in 2018. Zombie Assault General Manager TroyScott Farrar and owner Chuck Pablo said that the concept of the hunt is the same as Zombie Warz, with a few changes to �it the venue. “It’s the perfect time of year for an event like this – and it doesn’t require a lot of physical activity,” Farrar said. “Piggie-backing on the pandemic makes for a great storyline that is intriguing guests to come out and hunt. Who doesn’t want a chance to shoot a zombie?” The creepy monsters are hired by the staff at KOLI a few months in advance. Their primary purpose, other than to avoid getting taken out, is to have fun. “Actors must �ill out an application online, but one of the things we look for is a great zombie leg drag or grunt,” Farrar said. “Their looks and movements might be intimidating, but the zombies do not come within 20 feet of the trucks.” The mission lasts around 20 minutes and either individuals or groups can participate. Paintball experience isn’t necessary, but Farrar said shooting the zombies is more complicated than it looks because not only are they moving slowly, so is the zombie assault vehicle. Once the ride is over, guests will have a chance to take photos with zombies for proof that they survived the hunt. One important thing that Farrar and Pablo want guests to know is that they are not allowed to bring anything with them on the hunt. Tickets start at $25 and more information and ticket purchasing are at koliequestrian.com or thehuntaz.com. ■