All’s well for Hartwell

Estancia High senior Amy Hartwell hasn’t decided yet on her ideal job. But, for now at least, she has an office.

This fall, the Eagles’ outside hitter and defensive demon can be seen toiling with almost unique efficiency in about 900 square feet of volleyball court — half of one side — that she shares with teammate Amanda Watson.

It’s a two-person service-receive formation so rare that Eagles coach Jim Huffman, whose resume includes three years as the women’s coach at Cal State Fullerton, said he knows of only one other occurrence: the U.S. men’s national team that won the 1984 Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles.

Volleyball legend Karch Kiraly, arguably the best player in the history of the sport, was involved with that incarnation of an alignment that features only the most capable passers.

“Amy and Amanda are so hands-down better than everyone else on our team in passing, it’s a no-brainer,” Huffman said of the scheme, the implementation of which coincided with the Eagles claiming the championship of the 24-team Tri–Cities Tournament in Pomona Saturday. It was the first tournament title in six seasons for Estancia (7-2 through Thursday).

“Teams can’t believe we have a two-person service receive,” Huffman said. “We got a lot of positive feedback on it from other teams at the tournament, which was nice.”

Some of that positive feedback resulted in Hartwell, who is also at or near the team lead in kills, being named tournament MVP. She is also the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week.

“If she didn’t lead our team in kills in the tournament, she was within one or two of doing so,” Huffman said of the four-year varsity starter who earned Newport-Mesa Dream Team recognition last season. “She passed in six rotations and she is a very consistent server. She not only does everything we ask her to do, but she does it well.”

Hartwell, at 5-foot-7, has literally stepped up her hitting to help the Eagles this season.

“She was a defensive specialist as a freshman, then was my libero as a sophomore,” Huffman said. “She showed in practice she could unload on sets from the back row, so she went from a libero to a starting outside hitter [as a junior], which is kind of odd.”

With the graduation of standout hitter Annie Tomasek last year, Hartwell has become the featured option for setter Shona Lamb.

“She is pretty much running the show,” Huffman said of Hartwell, whose feisty competitiveness, he notes, makes her a natural team leader.

Hartwell’s prowess in the front row has come with greater versatility, allowing her to overcome a severe height disadvantage.

“I kind of got into the swing of hitting this year,” said Hartwell, who skipped club volleyball this last off-season in order to concentrate on softball, a sport she would like to play in college. “I’m pretty short for an outside hitter, but I have more shots this year and I like to use my arm strength.”

Huffman said the development of a line shot, and improved touch on tip shots, has helped Hartwell work around taller blockers.

Hartwell, who posted a 4.8 grade-point average as a junior, said she enjoys her hitting role, but takes the most pride in her ability to trigger the offense with an accurate pass.

“A lot of people focus on hitting and who gets the kill,” she said. “But it all starts with a good pass. If I make a good pass, we can set the middle, or the outside, which makes it much tougher on the defense.

“It’s a lot of pressure on me and Amanda, but it seems to be working really well.”

Hart-well, one might say.