Greater Fort Erie’s Tessa Bartok made quite the impression Thursday night at Lakeshore Catholic in the Second Team Girls All Star Volleyball Game.
Although her Team South squad lost 2-1 (9-25, 20-25 and 15-12), the Grade 11 student impressed those in attendance with a powerful serve that gave Team North fits all night.
She credited a former teacher for her serve.
“My elementary school teacher (Stevensville Public’s Steve Train) really helped me to manage my power.”
The 16-year-old Fort Erie resident, who played a lot of volleyball in elementary school and then competed in a beach volleyball league for two summers, has always had a powerful serve and thinks she knows where it comes from.
“I play ringette on ice and I probably developed my power from that.”
The travel ringette player, who is preparing for a tournament next week, was thrilled to have a chance to play in a volleyball all-star game.
“I really enjoyed it and I liked talking to all the other girls and getting to know them.”
She admitted it was a little hard to switch her focus back to volleyball from ringette.
“My sister and I sometimes go outside and practice covering and stuff,” the first time all-star said.
It’s a night that she is going to remember.
“It will be the experience and the friendships that I made. It was a very positive experience and I will definitely remember it.”