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Show .THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Thursday, December 11, 2008 'Barto' finds niche with Utah volleyball volleyball when she was a freshman in high school, shortly after moving from her hometown of Wroclaw, Poland to Chicago. "I was still getting used to the English barrier and I kind of just put all of that stress into sports," BartkowPaige Fieldsted iak said. "I didn't think about anySTAFF WRITER thing else, I was just playing." Bartkowiak, who was an avid basUsually, playing sports adds to the stress of the already intense high ketball player at the time, said her school experience, but for Karolina friends introduced her to volleyball Bartkowiak, sports were just the out- and she has never looked back. "I had never played volleyball belet she needed. Bartkowiak, known as Barto to the fore in my life, that was the first time Utah team and fans, began playing I actually picked up a volleyball and played and I just started liking it, and here I am," Bartkowiak said. Bartkowiak was a three-year varsity team member and four-time MVP for her club team, in addition to playing basketball for two years in high school. Utah coaches Burt Fuller and Heather Olmstead began recruiting Bartkowiak after they saw her play at a club volleyball tournament. "She is a very strong player and we knew she hit that slide well," said head coach Beth Launiere. "You can be very successful with that attack." The slide has been effective for Bartkowiak, who is playing on the right side this season, as she averages two kills per set and has the second highest hitting percentage on the team with a .347. Bartkowiak also contributes when it comes to the block. She was third on the team in blocks last season with a 1.06 per set and is averaging .JJ a set this season. Bartkowiak's volleyball skills, however, weren't the only reason she was recruited to play for the Utes. "I really liked her character," Lau.-niere said. "When we did her home visit I thought she was a just a qualMajor: ity person." For Bartkowiak, the decision to Exercise and Sport Science come to Utah was all about the welNickname: coming team environment she experienced during her visits to the U. Barto "When I got here and met all the girls, I was just like 'I love this team, Favorite Food: is so nice'," Bartkowiak Mom's cooking, so Polish food everyone said. "The coaches were really cool and everything about this place Favorite Type of Music: made me want to come here." Country .-*•• Bartkowiak made an instant con,, nection with the team and has spent Favorite thing about SLC: two years here at Utah making her *• The mountains^ l ""teammates laugh. "She is a really fun thing to joke Favorite Hobby outside Volleyball: around with," said middle blocker Lori Baird. "She doesn't take very Basketball many things seriously, unless it comes to volleyball, and it just makes Favorite season: her really fun to be around." Summer Unlike some athletes who seem to break down in big games or at impor- PlajS Spc tlight PHOTOS BY LUCAS ISLEY/the Deity Utah Chronicle Karolina Bartkowiak storms the floor after the Utah's win over BYU. Bartkowiak was introduced to volleyball by friends after she moved from Poland to Chicago. tant moments, Bartkowiak thrives on the rush of intense situations. "She is mentally tough and has the ability to step up when it's crunch time," Launiere said. "The bigger the game, the better Barto plays. She doesn't get rattled easily." Bartkowiak's ability to stay grounded and not get shaken by big time game situations has made her a crucial part of the Utes' success this season. In big games or crucial situations it always seems to be Bartkowiak who gets a kill when the Utes need it the most. "She has this attitude that no one is going to stop her," said senior middle blocker Emillie Toone. "If she does get blocked, she demands the ball right back so she can make it up." In addition to making big plays at crucial points in the season, Bartkowiak brings an infectious energy to the court. "She is just really intense and she brings so much passion and energy to the court and it really helps us pick it up," said outside hitter Kathryn Haynie. Bartkowiak was a vital part of the Utes 19-1 run at the end of the regular season and Utah's Mountain West Conference Championship and was one of four Utes named to the All-MWC team. For Bartkowiak, however, awards and recognition mean very little, as it's all about playing volleyball. "I try not to think about it too much," Bartkowiak said. "For me, it's just going in every day and getting my job done and enjoying playing with my team." Bartkowiak and the rest of the Utah volleyball team will be in Seattle for Sweet 16 action as they take on the No. 5 seeded Washington Huskies on Friday. p.fieldsted@chronicle.utah.edu GYMNASTICS Red Rocks ready to go for new season Bryan Chouinard STAFF WRITER TYLER COBB/ffif Daily Utah Otrmlde Nina Kim and the rest of the Red Rocks have been brushing up on their routines in preparation of the Red Rock Preview. The regular season will begin after Winter Break. As the preseason comes to an end, the Red Rocks are firing on all cylinders. You can feel the energy inside the Dumke Gymnastics Center as the beginning of the regular season starts right after of Winter Break. "We've really had a great preseason," said head coach Greg Marsden. "We've avoided any serious injuries, so no one has been out for an extended period of time, which really helps us." Aside from a slight ankle tweak for senior Kristina Baskett, the team is healthy, which is music to a head coach's ears. "Right now, we're in pretty good shape," Marsden said. "Everyone is healthy and progressing well. I feel like we're where we need to be at this time of the year." The girls have been brushing up on their routines and with the Red Rocks Preview approaching, all the hard work is beginning to pay off. "This is our third week working on routines," Marsden said. "They're getting more consistent and the routines are beginning to look easier for them." In order to raise the stakes a little bit and to simulate -a bit of a high pressure situation, Marsden has had the team stop what they're doing just about every two weeks to take turns performing routines in front of the whole squad. "Every other Friday, we have a little inter-squad competi- tion," Marsden said. "Those have gone very well, especially the last couple." Marsden has watched as his team progressed in competition and as a group. With the core of the team returning from last year's No. 2 squad, the girls have grown closer than even Marsden expected. "Kristina and Nina (Kim) have done a great job at providing leadership and getting the team together," Marsden said. "We have as much a feeling of camaraderie this year as we ever had. It was good last year, but I feel it's even a little better this year." The only new addition to this year's squad is the freshmen tandem of Cortni Beers and Stephanie McAllister, both of whom have shown promise in preseason training. Red Rock fans should get used to seeing a lot of the duo during the next four years as Marsden expects both to have an immediate impact at the season opener against UCLA. "Slowly and surely, (Beers) has gotten in better shape and now, especially on bars and beam she will be ready to help us right from the beginning of the season," he said. "Stephanie came into the preseason in great shape," Marsden said. "She will be ready for all four events. It's just a matter of her confidence and consistency." While Marsden has been impressed with his freshmen, no one has shined this preseason like junior Jamie Deetscreek. She has put in the work during the off-season and it's starting to pay off in the gym. "(Deetscreek) has been a role player the last couple of years," Marsden said. "She worked really hard this summer and has had See GYMNASTICS Page 7 |