Cedar Bluff senior middle hitter Audrianna Hargitt signed a volleyball scholarship with Gadsden State Community College on Thursday. Pictured sitting from left is Leatha Harp (grandmother), Hargitt and Audrey Hargitt (mother). Standing from left is Gadsden State volleyball coach Angie Sanders, Cedar Bluff volleyball coach Tiffany Ferguson and Cedar Bluff principal Bobby Mintz.
Once she got the ball over the net, she moved on to the next goal, then the next.
On Thursday, the senior middle hitter accomplished her latest goal: signing to play college volleyball.
Hargitt put pen to paper on a scholarship with Gadsden State Community College. She's the first Cedar Bluff volleyball player to sign a college scholarship.
“As I look back and realize how I've grown as a volleyball player, I never thought this day would come,” Hargitt said. “Now that it has, I have so many emotions going. Everybody's asking me ‘How are you feeling right now?’ I don’t really know right now.”
Last season, Hargitt led the Lady Tigers (30-19) to the Class 1A North Regional Tournament in Huntsville. She posted 578 kills, 523 digs, 86 blocks, 73 aces, 32 assists.
As a junior, Hargitt helped Cedar Bluff earn its first berth in the Class 1A Elite Eight. She finished that season with 709 kills, 569 digs, 108 aces and 60 blocked shots as an outside hitter. Hargitt was also chosen as the Cherokee County Most Valuable Player in 2011.
For Cedar Bluff coach Tiffany Ferguson, Hargitt’s signing gives her a sense a pride.
“It’s days like this that make you appreciate your job and makes your job worthwhile,” Ferguson said. “When I came here, her hit was about as hard as a tip, but I knew she had a lot of potential.
“She’s that kind of person who’s going to work hard. She’s going to be vocal. She’s going to work hard in the weight room. She’s up here working on drills when she doesn’t have to be. That’s what’s gotten her here. This is her passion and what she likes to do. I’m sure she’ll go to Gadsden State and develop her skills even more. Who knows what will be in her future the next couple of years? She’s probably set or broken every record that was here before her, and I fully believe she has the potential of breaking their records too.”
Gadsden State coach Angie Sanders expects Hargitt’s future to be a bright one. She first got to know Hargitt through club ball three years ago and has kept her eyes on her ever since.
“When I first saw Audrianna, I said ‘Whoa, that girl can jump,’ “Sanders said. ”She hits the ball well and very hard. When she gets with us, she’s going to do great things fast. She’s going to be a big asset to us. She’s very athletic. I feel like she’ll come right in and do very well.”
Hargitt said she’s appreciative of what everyone has done to help develop her into the player she is today.
“I’m glad Coach Ferguson came here and helped me become so much better,” she said. “I started off with Coach (Terry) Hopper, and she was a motivator to me. Then, Coach Ferguson came in and she was my fundamental coach. She made sure I did what was right. I’m glad she did it, and I’m glad I had my team behind me to help me.”
Hargitt said she’s sad her Cedar Bluff volleyball career has ended, but she’s excited about her future endeavors at Gadsden State.
“I feel like I’m going to learn a lot for Mrs. Sanders,” Hargitt said. ”She’s going to help take me to the next level, especially coming from a 1A school. The way she come to me, she was like ‘Look, I can make you better. I can expand you so much more.’ That’s a good feeling. They do have a good program and she’s a really good coach. She’s just like Coach Ferguson, so I already know what the atmosphere is going to be.”
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