HOMECOMING

PALMER — Before graduating to the college level and earning the opportunity to play Division I volleyball at Rutgers University Hannah Curtis spent countless hours refining her skills in the Colony High School gymnasium.

Last week, the 2008 Colony graduate returned to that gym she once called home to help the next line of local volleyball players. Curtis and two of her Rutgers teammates were the featured coaches at Colony’s annual weeklong volleyball clinic at Colony High School.

“It’s so weird, I feel so old now,” Curtis said of her homecoming last Thursday, as she took a break from working with a group of local middle hitters. “But it brings back such good memories.”

The Colony volleyball program typically brings Kim Lester, a head coach at Mesa College in San Diego, Calif., to be the featured coach at the camp.

But after a scheduling conflict prevented Lester from returning to Alaska this year, Colony head coach Amy Carter approached her former player with the idea of returning for the camp.

Curtis agreed, and brought two of her Rutgers teammates — Emma Chrystal and Katie Groff — with her. Carter said it presents a great opportunity to show local players there is a possibility of continuing in athletics after high school.

“It’s been good for the younger girls to see that someone from Colony High School, even the Valley, goes on and plays college volleyball at a top level,” Carter said. “Real people they know do play Division I.”

Having coached her throughout Curtis’ high school career, Carter knew Curtis was the right choice to help lead the camp.

“I knew her personality,” Carter said. “I knew she’d do a great job.”

During her high school career, Curtis said she really didn’t have the opportunity to be coached by a college player.

“I think it’s fun for these girls to be coached by someone still living volleyball,” Curtis said. “Especially for me, being from Alaska, getting out and being able to play.”

Curtis said she has done some coaching while attending Rutgers in New Jersey, but admitted she was a little nervous about coaching the players she shares a hometown with.

“It was a little extra pressure. I wanted them to have fun,” Curtis said.

Stressing the need to have fun is central to Curtis’ teaching.

“That was a big thing for me,” Curtis said. “In middle school, I didn’t like volleyball at all. I thought it was really boring. Sometimes I think people think volleyball is boring. We’re focusing on having fun and don’t get frustrated.”

Carter agrees with that philosophy.

“That’s one of my main things. Volleyball’s supposed to be fun,” Carter said. “It’s a game, you’re supposed to enjoy it.”

Curtis, who will be a junior in the fall, made an immediate impact in the Rutgers program. As a freshman she played in all 24 matches, led her team with 45 total blocks and finished second on the squad with 120 kills.

Last season, the 6-foot middle blocker played in each of Rutgers’ 25 matches and Curtis once again led her team in total blocks and finished second in kills. She posted 209 kills and 56 total blocks.

Curtis was named the Northern Lights Conference Player of the Year after leading the Knights in kills and total blocks as a senior. That season she also helped Colony finish as the runner-up in the 4A state tournament.

Curtis said she’d like to return home to help run another camp next summer.

“If Ms. Carter lets us come back, I’d love to come back,” Curtis said. “I’m really having a fun time. Hopefully I will continue doing it next year.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.