Parrie Hartley

Parrie Hartley is this week’s athlete of the week. Hartley is a sophomore nursing major from Columbus, Texas. She played in 28 matches and was named to the Southland Conference Honor Roll last year. Currently, Hartley leads the team in kills and is tied for the team lead in sets played.

The Lion’s Roar: Out of so many sports to choose from, why did you choose to play volleyball?

Parrie Hartley: I picked volleyball because there’s not a lot of physical contact. In basketball, you have to touch people, and I don’t like other people’s sweat on me. Also, it’s such a team sport. You play with a bunch of great girls who all want to go and be the best that they can. 

TLR: When did you start playing? For how many years have you played and for which teams?

PH: I started playing volleyball when I was 11. So I guess now, I’ve been playing volleyball eight years, almost nine. Wow, I seem old. 

TLR: What is your best memory and biggest accomplishment as a player?

PH: My first one was my sophomore year [during high school], when we went to the state tournament. We weren’t expected to be good. Just to go  to state and beat the top four teams out of my division, it’s a huge honor. 

TLR: What are some of your goals in this sport?

PH: My ultimate goal is to win conference. There are all these Southeastern teams winning conference and they flash their big rings around and I’m so jealous. I want that ring more than anything now.

TLR: What do you hope to accomplish after you graduate? Do you plan on playing professionally?

PH: If the option comes, I definitely could consider it because I've always wanted to travel, and I've always wanted to live in another country. Of course, playing volleyball would be awesome and getting paid to do it would be even better, but if the opportunity doesn't come along, I want to get a master's in nursing and I want to be a NICU nurse and work in the neo-natal care unit and work with all the little preemie babies. 

TLR:   What advice do you have for other volleyball players?

PH: Always work hard because it’s not going to be easy. Volleyball is not an easy sport. You’ve got to be mentally tough and you’ve got to be physically tough. Everything works out individually if you put in the effort.

TLR: Who motivates or inspires you?

PH: My little sister. She’s a senior in high school right now so she’s not that little, but she’s still little to me. She looks up to me and I just want to show her what you can do because she plays volleyball and looks up to me.   

TLR: What has been your biggest challenge in your volleyball career and how did you overcome it?

PH: My senior year of high school I lost the graduating class. I lost a lot of my friends that I played volleyball with who were all very good. In losing all of them, I had to step up and be the leader. That was hard for me because I had never been one before, so I had to step up and do good. 

TLR: How has playing volleyball for Southeastern challenged, shaped or helped you?

PH: I think it's made me grow up a lot, especially during my freshman year when the coaching changed and everything that happened. It made me grow up and realize that not everything revolves around you and your little small towns. There [are] bigger things. I think it made me grow up a bit and it made me realize how you just have to keep going and you can't give up, no matter how tough it gets. 

TLR: What are you interested in doing when you’re not playing volleyball? 

PH: Socializing. I talk to everyone. I am such a nerd when it comes to that. I love talking to people and I’m so weird. I’m really into ‘Gossip Girl’, so Netflix is my new hobby right now. That’s what I do if I’m not studying. 

TLR: What is your favorite or signature move during games? 

PH: If I get a kill or if someone else gets a kill, I just scream and put my arms to my side and in fists, like this, and I run in and screaming as loud as I can. It’s really embarrassing. And if I’m really excited, you’ll see me jump up in the air and you’ll see me fist pump and I’m like, “Yeah! Let’s go!”