Q&A with Jayna Hartig

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Redshirt senior Jayna Hartig and the Virginia women’s basketball team earned the No. 3 seed at the ACC Tournament, which begins Thursday in Greensboro. The Cavaliers received a bye in the first round and will meet the winner of No. 6 NC State or No. 11 Clemson at 8 p.m. Friday at the Greensboro Coliseum and will be televised on ACC Select. Hartig, a native of Highlands Ranch, Colo., recently caught up with VirginiaSports.com to talk about the upcoming tournament, her growth as a player and her interest in the health field.

Question: How would you sum up the end of the regular season?
Hartig: We toned up the things we are still trying to work on and are making sure our defense is solid going into the ACC Tournament. We have to bring it every day. In the ACC Tournament, you don’t get days off. Same thing with the NCAA Tournament, you have to bring it every night or else you are one-and-done.

Question: How would you describe your growth from when you first arrived on Grounds until now?
Hartig: My concept of being a team player has changed a lot. It is not always going to be your role to be the best player on the team. Monica (Wright) is a great player and an amazing leader and obviously we look to her to do a lot. But every single person on our team has a valuable role. I have come to recognize that within myself. I have matured a lot, as you would probably hope. Other than that I am trying to enjoy my last little bit of time here.

Question: What is your major?
Hartig: Kinesiology in undergrad and then next year I am going to get my master’s in exercise psychology. I’m going to graduate in May and then with my master’s next May.

Question: What is your career goal?
Hartig: I don’t know; I feel like I should be a lot closer to knowing. Possibly cardiac rehab if I wanted to try and do something right out of school. I might go back to school and get into another program – maybe PT or PA.

Question: What is your interest in the health field?
Hartig: I think always being an active person and really enjoying exercising has helped. It has always been interesting to me and has always been at the forefront of my life. If I have to run a million court sprints I might as well know why!

Question: What has been your favorite class at UVa?
Hartig: Oh gosh, there have been so many. I took a class last semester called mammalian physiology that I really enjoyed. The professor was awesome and everything we learned about was so interesting. That has been my latest favorite. This semester all my classes are looking pretty good too.

Question: What do you like to do for fun?
Hartig: I love to read. You’d think we would all be sick of each other outside of basketball but I love to hang out with the girls.

Question: Any good book recommendations?
Hartig: Tons! I really like A Thousand Splendid Suns. I am reading a book right now called Eating Animals right now that is a look instead American and how we view our food. That is interesting. And anything by Jodi Picoult I love!

Question: How is your sister?
Hartig: She is really good. She is happy being closer to home. My parents go up to see her a lot. She is a Colorado girl! She is happy.