Diverse skills help Hartong play big

She’s been described as the hardest-working middle blocker in the country. Undersized at 6-foot-2, Emily Hartong has that blue-collar work ethic that makes her successful against taller opponents.

Hartong is often overlooked in the galaxy of stars that is the Hawaii volleyball team, a constellation anchored by supernova Kanani Danielson. But the sophomore with a quick step-out move that matches her arm swing made her presence known during the season-opening Chevron Rainbow Wahine Invitational.

Hartong followed up her career-high six service aces Saturday night against Wichita State with a .600 hitting effort yesterday against the Wildcats. It earned her a spot on the all-tournament team, surprising no one but herself.

"I wasn’t expecting it, I am surprised," said Hartong, who finished with seven kills and one error in the first two sets. "I thought we all played well, were really in system tonight.

"Mita (setter Uiato) and me connected right way and it helped open it up early for our other hitters."

Both Arizona coach Dave Rubio and Wichita State coach Chris Lamb came away impressed.

"Emily certainly has improved significantly from last year, has really developed," Rubio said. "She has gone from a one-dimensional to a multi-dimensional player. She is keeping the other teams honest (unable to stack the block on other UH players)."

"Everyone knows about Hawaii’s two All-Americans," Lamb said of Kanani Danielson and Brittany Hewitt. "And everyone knows about (freshman Jane) Croson. But they need to know about Hartong.

"I knew of her in high school. She played for a friend of mine. I didn’t think she’d develop in this short of time. She is stronger and more physical than I thought she’d be at this point of her career."

Wahine coach Dave Shoji has seen it, too.

"She’s so dynamic, we need to have her involved," he said. "She’s got a quick arm, but she’s a lot stronger than last year. We probably are the only team out there that lets both middles serve. Brittany has a good serve and Hartong’s been working on her jumper (jump serve) for two years now and it’s a tough serve.

"Hartong also has taken a ton of reps on defense. She’s pretty darn good back there, so I don’t have a problem leaving her in (on defense)."

After the win Saturday, Shoji said he wanted to get Hartong more swings. (She had eight kills with two errors in 14 attempts.)

Yesterday, Uiato fed Hartong three of the first four sets. In Set 2, Hartong put her sixth kill down on a step-out to give the Wahine a 12-7 lead. Her only hitting error came on her ninth attempt, when she was blocked on an overpass. She put down her final kill for set point at 24-16.

"We connected well early," Uiato said. "She’s such a strong player, has gotten stronger than last year."

Hartong says that being stronger helps compensate for being "undersized" at the position.

"I understand why people say I am," she said.

"Some of the other teams’ middles are huge. But I just have to keep working hard and give it 100 percent."