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Texas A&M Volleyball

Improved Hollann Hans shouldering load for Aggie Volleyball

October 4, 2017
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Fresh off a breakout freshman campaign in which she was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and also recognized as the AVCA All-South Region Freshman of the Year, it would have been easy for Hollann Hans to relax in the offseason and rest on her laurels.

Instead, she went on a mission trip in May, traveled from her Corpus Christi home to San Antonio each week in June for private lessons and then returned to College Station in July, working out each day while helping run Texas A&M’s summer youth camps with her teammates.

“I really did not want to hit a plateau. I just want to keep getting better each year, and that’s really my goal,” Hans said. “We had 6 a.m. workouts, and then we were on our feet all day for camp, so it was a little hard but it was worth it.”

Her hard work in the offseason has paid dividends so far in 2017, as Hans has shouldered the load for an A&M team that has taken its lumps early in the season.

Hans, though, has been a constant force for the Aggies, who have started the year 4-6 and 1-2 in SEC play. Her 142 kills lead the team by a wide margin, and she ranks third in the SEC in kills, points and service aces. On Monday, Hans was named the SEC Player of the Week.

“She’s pretty much carried us in so many ways,” said head coach Laurie Corbelli. “In the front row, back row, attacking and serving.”

Texas A&M Athletics Hans leads Texas A&M in kills by a wide margin and ranks third in the SEC in kills, service aces and points.
The 6-1 sophomore from Calallen is in a different role for the Aggies this year. No longer is she a youngster on a team stocked with veterans — now she is one of the main leaders on a young team that has endured several injuries to key players already this season.

“Last year I just went in and played. I didn’t really know what was going to happen,” Hans said. “This year I have a lot more experience and confidence when I’m playing, and I’m trying to be more vocal on the court because we are a young team.”

The A&M staff has tried to get Hans to be more vocal by asking her questions in team meetings or during practice but doesn’t want to push the envelope too much and make their star player uncomfortable.

Corbelli is quick to point out that Shelby Sullivan and Jazzmin Babers were both very quiet early in their respective careers and eventually developed into all-around leaders.

“A leader doesn’t have to be vocal. She’s one of those people where her work ethic is what leads the team,” said freshman setter Camille Conner. “She is getting after it, working hard, and that’s what people see and want to do. She leads by example. 

"She’s just one of those players where even when our offense struggles, she can help get us out of it. That helps a lot with our team confidence and gives us assurance that we’re going to get the next point. If we made a mistake or we get in a rut, we know that Hollann can take care of it.”

Conner, who watched with awe from afar as Hans went through her terrific freshman year, was impressed with her even more when she got to know her as a teammate over the summer and once the season started.

“She is honestly hands down the most genuinely nice person I have ever met,” Conner said of Hans. “Her love for the Lord is something that inspires me, and I would love just to be like Hollann. She is such an inspiration, and if you want to be someone, be Hollann because she’s an amazing person.”

Hans has grown as a player as well as a leader. She got noticeably stronger over the offseason, which Corbelli says is “scary for opponents,” and that added strength has translated onto the court. She has also improved her defense and passing to the point that she can stay on the court for all six rotations, meaning she never has to leave the court, even when she gets to the back row.

“Whether we’re in system or out of system, we’re able to set her in the back row. That brings another offensive threat, so instead of having three hitters in the front row, we have a fourth hitter,” Conner said. “It’s awesome to have such a great player playing all six rotations. She’s just so athletic it’s hard to stop a back row attack from her.”

Texas A&M Athletics Teams are starting to gameplay for Hans, who is averaging over 37 attacks per match and and has led the team in the category for most of the season.
However, that increased versatility has placed a target on her back. Because she is now on the court for the entire match, opposing teams try even harder to dissect her play on film and attack any perceived weaknesses.

“Teams are keying on her, and that takes a special approach from a player,” Corbelli said. “Teams know they have to shut her down to beat us, and she’s handling it beautifully. She’s a really good athlete, she’s a good player and her skills only get better.”

Even with defenses focused on her, the Aggies have still relied heavily on her offensive production. Hans is averaging over 37 attacks per match and has led A&M in attacks in seven of ten matches this season.

The hope for the Aggies is that once Kiara McGee, who has been dealing with a concussion, comes back for good and the starting lineup becomes more consistent, Hans will not have to carry such a heavy workload.

“I love getting the ball and I think it’s great that Camille sets me so much, but once we get a good pass and she can set our other great hitters, I think that’s a great thing too,” Hans said. “Once we get a better first touch then we can distribute the ball and keep the defense guessing.”

After dropping their first two conference games, the Aggies hope they turned a corner after sweeping Georgia in straight sets last Friday. They will try to maintain that positive momentum as they travel to Florida to take on the No. 1 Gators tonight. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU.

“I think we are just getting back on track to where we were at the beginning,” said Conner, the reigning SEC Co-Setter of the Week. “It took a little bit. Every team is going to have its ups and downs, but we’re back on track and I think Aggie Volleyball is going to be back where it should be.”
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Improved Hollann Hans shouldering load for Aggie Volleyball

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