80-year-old volleyball player serves up passion for the game
CORONA DEL MAR, Calif.-- Volleyball is a serious sport on the beaches of Southern California and being tops at the game takes a lot of practice. But there is one player who's had more time to practice than just about anyone.
Eighty-year-old Lois Austin has been perfecting her volleyball skills on the sand for nearly six decades.
One might think a lot of people her age might look at the ball coming at them and get out of the way, but not Lois.
"Not when you've looked at it as many years as I have," she said.
Twice a week -- every week -- you'll find Lois holding court with other seniors. Lori Williams is the youngest at 59.
"You better watch out when you are on the other side from her because she will hit it as hard as she can and every time she can," said Williams of Lois. "She's always going for the big kill."
Lois has always been active. From high school in the 1950s to these days just about any sport on or off-shore.
What does Lois think when she sees a "normal" 80-year-old?
"I think they think old," she said. "They give up...some people just like to sit, and once you sit and you're old, you're done!"
Ron Kanemora has known Lois for nearly 30 years.
"I could never beat her when I was young," he said.
But he said that has changed.
"I caught up to her," he said, laughing.
At 77 years old, he's the group's second oldest player.
When some of the players make dives, they're a little slow to get up.
"If I have to go stretch out and dig a ball way over here, I'm not getting up," Ron said laughing. "Everybody's yelling at me 'get up, Ron, get up! I'm like, 'no!'"
The games may be friendly, but they also get pretty intense.
Lois dislocated a finger once.
"I was playing the next day," she said. "Just taped it up!"
Williams sees Lois as an inspiration.
"I don't know very many people in their 80s that move like she does," Williams said. "That's as enthusiastic."
That makes Lois feel good.
"I hope that, by seeing what I can do, they keep going as they get older, like I have," she said.
For Lois, and her teammates, age is truly just a state of mind.
How long do they think they will be able to keep this up?
"I'm not retiring until she retires," Ron said.
Don't count on that happening anytime soon.