Multi-sport athlete enjoyed competing

November 17, 2017

For The Tribune

Abby Hackman prefers playing indoor sports and said she has enjoyed her time being a member of the volleyball and basketball teams at Trinity Lutheran High School.

Hackman played in the front row for volleyball and is a post player on the basketball floor.

The 5-foot-11 senior said she had to mix up her attacking in volleyball.

“I would have to hit line and tip when it was open,” she said. “When you’re outside, you’re responsible for scoring because the outside gets set most of the time. I would hit around the block and make sure I’d hit the open spots, whether that would be the middle or the corners or tool it off the other blockers’ hands.

“At the end of the season, I ended up playing on the right side. My main job on the right side was to block because that’s the position behind the setter. It’s harder for her to set back there, so I don’t get set as much, but I would block the other teams’ outside hitter.”

Hackman helped the Cougars win three sectional titles and received most improved honors her sophomore year.

“I really enjoyed my teammates,” Hackman said. “We were young this season. We were learning, but it was fun. We always had a lot of fun whether we won or lost. Winning sectionals was really nice.”

In volleyball, communication played a key role in successes for Trinity.

“Probably the most important thing in volleyball is communication,” Hackman said. “The back row can see what spots are open on the other side of the court and where the hitters are hitting.

“It is important that they communicate to the front row and that the front row knows where the other team’s hitters are going to hit because they’re the ones blocking, and if they don’t block it, they see where it goes, so it is important that they tell the back row, ‘This girl is hitting only line’ or ‘She’s tipping in the middle.’”

Hackman started playing volleyball and basketball in fifth grade at Immanuel Lutheran School.

In basketball, Hackman said it takes teamwork between her and Sydney Jaynes as to how they play in the post.

“When we’re both in, we try to utilize (positioning) and run us both through the post,” she said. “We have so many plays where we’re constantly moving, and we’re running through both. Usually, we’ll hear the coach calling the plays, and Jodi (Goecker, point guard) will tell us what we’re running.”

Hackman scored 22 points against New Washington her sophomore year and netted 25 against Waldron and West Washington last season.

“My strength is probably my post moves,” Hackman said. “I’m OK with shooting. I’ll shoot if I’m open. I would rather play against a man-to-man defense.”

Outside of scoring, Hackman is counted on for rebounding and interior defense.

“Sometimes, I can get away with going over the back because if I have a short girl in front of me, I can get it by going high in the air,” Hackman said. “I like to play both man and zone depending on the team. I do like to press, but we don’t press as often as I think we should.”

In whichever sport she’s playing, Hackman tried to keep a strong head.

“Being mentally strong is very important, and I would say more so with volleyball just the way the game works,” Hackman said. “Somebody has to mess up. That can get in people’s heads really quickly. It used to get in my head really bad. You have to forget it. The same in basketball. If you miss a shot, you have to get over it and move on.”

Hackman said she has enjoyed being a student at Trinity.

“I really like it at Trinity,” Hackman said. “It’s small, but I like it. We play schools that are Class 3A and 4A in basketball and volleyball. I’ll remember my teammates, the bus rides and the games. Even the games we lost you learn from. It’s still fun just to play the games. I’d rather win, but it’s still fun.”

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Hackman file” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Name: Abby Hackman

School: Trinity Lutheran

Parents: Sarah and Clay Hackman

Sibling: Mitchell

Sports: Basketball, four years; volleyball, four years

Athletics highlights: Volleyball, 2015 MVP, sectional titles 2015, 2016 and 2017; basketball, 2016-17 MVP, 2015-16 most improved

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