Fresno State Athletics
Tower of Power
10/10/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
It is safe to say East Union High in Manteca, Calif., will have a difficult time finding a replacement for Carrie Hartt. A middle blocker that stands a towering 6-foot-2, Hartt will be tremendously missed at her former school. In four years, Hartt was the varsity team's most valuable player, leading East Union to a 55-9 record over that period.
Her high school volleyball team will not be the only program searching for a new tower of power in the middle. Delta Valley Volleyball Club will also be hard pressed to come across another Carrie Hartt. She guided Delta Valley to a Junior Olympic 18-Under national championship in Louisville, Ky., this past summer.
However, Hartt will not forget her experiences with either team. Both squads taught her about the game of volleyball and about being a team player.
"It was a great experience to play for Delta Valley," Hartt said. "We bonded so well as a team, and I think that's what gave us a shot to win."
Now Hartt has brought her skills to the Fresno State volleyball program. At her height, Hartt is the tallest woman on the team. She provides an imposing presence in the middle and carries a confidence about her that is unmatched.
"I offer a little more height, and although it's not the most important thing, I use it to the best of my ability," Hartt said. "I think playing in the Junior Olympics has given me some extra experience and I feel very capable of playing at this level."
The adjustment to playing at the collegiate level has not been extremely difficult for Hartt. She said she feels different now playing in front of more people and traveling to play against equally competitive schools.
"College ball is definitely a lot faster," Hartt said. "I also feel like I'm playing for much more, for pride and for the university. I'm having fun, but I'm also playing hard because I'm representing this college and the game is much more competitive."
Hartt has got some solid playing time early this season. An injury to junior Shauna McQuaid allowed her to show what she is capable of. She proved there is plenty of power in her arms and can be a spark plug for the young squad. Her confidence in the team is also reason to believe she will be part of a solid foundation in the future.
"We will come together like we know we can," Hartt said. "When we play as a whole and have fun, we're capable of so much. There is always room for improvement, but we are all so talented and work very well together. There's no telling how good we can get."
