Meet the Volleyball newcomers: Sara Hattis
July 23, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas -- Despite only playing club volleyball for three months, Sara Hattis ended her high school campaign as the No. 9 recruit nationally as rated by Prep Volleyball. The 6-foot-4 middle blocker from New Mexico was also nationally recruited as a basketball player. Hattis helped her Cleveland High School (Rio Rancho, N.M.) to the 2011 state finals, and she ended the season with 289 kills on a .485 hitting percentage. "She is a fun one. We are fortunate that she chose volleyball over basketball," head coach Jerritt Elliott says of Hattis. "I think she has a very high end at this level. She is a space-taker. She has big hands, plays long and has a quick arm swing. In time, she is going to be special." Hattis was on the Forty Acres for the first summer session, and she recently spent some time with TexasSports.com as she prepares for her freshman season with the Longhorns. How would you describe the transition on the court and in the classroom during your summer session? It was a great way to get my feet wet, and get a feel for the campus and the team. I feel like I have my bearings now. What is it like in that gym, because you're now a tall, physical player on a roster full of the same? It's very competitive, and that's a lot of fun. That's going to make everyone better as we compete for a spot on the court. There's a lot of talent. We're pretty stacked this year, so it should be a lot of fun.
How has your short experience validated the decision you made during the
recruiting process? The coaches and players had a lot to do with the decision to
come to Texas. Those were huge, important factors, and I'm really happy with the
team. We have so much talent and potential that I'm just excited to play this season.
I love to win, I hate to lose and I think that's how the whole team is.
What were you able to experience on the court this summer? The coaches aren't allowed to be with us, so basically it's conditioning in the morning and open gym in the afternoon. It's drills, and sometimes we play. We just get reps in and make sure we're touching the ball. In that time, I was able to see how the girls play. It was fun and competitive, and that's what I love about it. Our captains do a nice job of keeping everything organized. What academic plans do you have for yourself at UT? Right now, I'm undecided, but I do have an interest in studio broadcast or psychology. I'm not exactly positive, and I want to keep my options open and see what I find interesting during my first year of classes. When did you stop basketball and completely focus on volleyball? Actually, my last game of basketball was my senior year of high school. But I had already committed through volleyball. I finished my senior basketball season because I didn't want to completely drop it. I played basketball my whole life, and I still love the game. It was a matter of the team and the school for me. I fell in love with Texas. I love volleyball and basketball the same, but it ended up being volleyball because of Texas. |
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