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Tarr Crashing the Nets Overseas
by Jeff Navin, Florida Today
September 13, 2007
Robert Tarr vows to eventually learn Spanish -- he's having that much
fun playing professional volleyball in Puerto Rico. But, before he's
done as an active player, he might have to learn a little Italian,
Russian or Turkish.
Tarr, a 2002 Rockledge High graduate, graduated from Long Beach State
in May. During his four years with the 49ers, Tarr earned a starting
spot as a freshman and became a formidable outside hitter. As a senior
in 2006, he earned All-America honors.
Now, the 6-foot-6, 200-pound Tarr plays for the Narajito Changos in
Puerto Rico's nine-team professional volleyball league. Tarr lives
just outside of San Juan in Dorado.
"Puerto Rico's a blast," the 23-year-old Tarr said. "My
teammates are
great and there are a lot of nice people. The volleyball players are a
little different, and they like to go out and enjoy themselves. But we
get our work done in the gym and it all evens out."
The Changos are one of the better teams in the league and Tarr
appreciates the enthusiasm of the fans.
"We draw well -- this team has won the majority of the championships
and they have a good following," Tarr said. "When we make the
big
play, that gets the crowd going. They love it when we do it and it
gets them pumped up."
In August, Tarr played for the United States squad that earned a
bronze medal in the World University Games held in Thailand. The U.S
team finished with a 7-1 record, with its lone loss coming to Turkey,
which eventually won the gold medal.
Back in 2005, Tarr also played for the U.S. team that played in the
World University Games in Turkey.
During his senior season at Long Beach State, Tarr led the team with
an average of 4.85 kills a game. That average was good for fifth in
the nation. He also was fifth in the nation at 5.68 points a game.
His career high for kills in a match was 36 against Stanford during
his junior year.
Tarr's path to prominence in volleyball has been unconventional.
That's the way it has to be for boys in Florida. High school
volleyball is limited at the high school level, with just a few
schools in South Florida and in the Orlando area sponsoring the sport.
"Unfortunately, in this area, guys who want to play volleyball don't
have the opportunity that girls do in high school," said Tarr, who
started playing for the Orlando Gold club volleyball team as a
13-year-old with a little coaxing and a lot of encouragement from his
mother, Susan Davis. "But they can ask their high school athletic
director to form a team."
Colleges in California scout various club tournaments and Junior
Olympic events, and that's how Tarr ended up at Long Beach State.
"I think the bigger schools recruit more from the club teams than
the
high schools anyway," Tarr said. "I was a little nervous at
first --
going to California -- on the first day. But then I knew that's where
I wanted to be, and I still live there today."
But, there still is that urge to travel and play abroad.
The professional volleyball season in Puerto Rico is four months long
and will end in December. Most leagues around the globe play for eight
months.
"I'd like to play a half season overseas -- for whoever wants to
pick
me up," Tarr said. "I don't know where. A lot of times, players
get
hurt and that creates an opening. . . . It would be amazing to play in
a place like Italy. That's something I aspire to do. The leagues in
Italy and Russia are probably the two best in the world."
The U.S. boasts an experienced group of volleyball players who will
represent the country next year in the Summer Olympics in Beijing. In
2012, Tarr, undoubtedly, will be among a pool of players considered
for spots on the squad.
"I'm seeing the world and that's a great part of the experience,"
Tarr
said. "This is great work. I get to play the sport I love, and they
pay me for it." |
