Siuslaw Vikings volleyball coach Jon Hornung is still tinkering with a starting lineup, but he already has some tall tales to tell.

That's because three of his six starters are 6-foot tall and talented. Very talented.

"Similar to last year, we won't really solidify a lineup until league season begins," Hornung told Exploding Whale Sports on Tuesday via email.

The Vikings will need a starting lineup soon, beginning Thursday with jamboree matches against Junction City and Philomath in Junction City.

But they won't settle on a first six until Tuesday, Sept. 12, when they host Marshfield in their Far West League opener.

"Current starters are going to be Mak York and Mia Collins at middle, Emma Collins and Jordan Long at outside," Hornung said.

That's three accomplished 6-footers in York and the Collins sisters, sure to strike fear in Far West League circles this season.

The biggest shoes to fill in the Vikings lineup will be at setter, where they lost Abby Watkins and Brittany Long to graduation.

"Sam (Scheer) and Aylenne (Vasquez) have stepped up big time, and are both looking really strong," Hornung said.

Mighty mite Maci Wells returns at libero, while Abby Coday and Alyssa Richards will get rotation swings at right side.

"We're going to experiment with Macalin Mason hitting right side, Kendal Robinson at libero and Lindsey Long at setter," Hornung said.

As good as the supporting cast may be, the star once again will be junior Makenzie York.

"The improvement Mak has shown from last season is incredible considering she was (co-)Far West League player of the year," Hornung said. "So it will be really fun to see how far she's going to progress this season."

The Vikings will miss perennial all-star Elyssa Rose, but there is a star in the making in Mia Collins, a sophomore who stood out in volleyball, basketball and softball as a freshman.

"Mia has moved into the middle and is starting to show signs of dominance," Hornung said. "So our middle attack of Mak and Mia should rival the strength of last year's tandem of Mak and Elyssa Rose."

The Vikings will be on the road through the start of league play, beginning with Thursday's jamboree at Junction City.

"I'm expecting some early season jitters these first few matches, and there are a few things we need to work out before Thursday," Hornung said.

"But I think the girls are ready to finally get on the court."

VIKINGS VARSITY

• 1 Jordan Long, outside hitter, junior, 5-6
• 3 Maci Wells, libero, senior co-captain, 5-1
• 4 Samantha Scheer, setter, junior, 5-1
• 5 Mia Collins, middle blocker/outside hitter, sophomore, 6-0
• 6 Macalin Mason, right side/outside hitter, junior, 5-6
• 7 Emma Collins, outside hitter/right side, senior co-captain, 6-0
• 8 Aylenne Vasquez, setter, sophomore, 5-2
• 9 Kendal Robinson, libero/outside hitter, sophomore, 5-6
• 12 Alyssa Richards, right side/outside hitter, junior, 5-8
• 13 Abby Coday, right side, senior, 5-11
• 14 Mak York, middle blocker, junior co-captain, 6-0

SCHEDULE

• Thursday, Aug. 31 — vs. Philomath at Junction City, time TBD
• Thursday, Aug. 31 — at Junction City, 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 5 — at Elmira, 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 7 — at Pleasant Hill, 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 9 — at Canby Tournament
• Tuesday, Sept. 12 — Marshfield (Far West League opener), 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 14 — at Brookings-Harbor, 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Sept. 19 — at Douglas, 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 21 — North Bend, 6:30
• Saturday, Sept. 23 — at Sisters Invitational
• Tuesday, Sept. 26 — South Umpqua, 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 28 — at Marshfield, 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 30 — at Junction City Tournament
• Tuesday, Oct. 3 — Brooking-Harbor, 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 5 — Douglas, 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 10 — at North Bend, 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 12 — at South Umpqua, 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 14 — at Marshfield Tournament