University of Minnesota Athletics
Senior Scope: Hannah Tapp
7/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Hannah Tapp is one of six seniors on the Gopher Volleyball team. Tapp was named a 2015 AVCA First Team All-American and a unanimous All-Big Ten selection as a junior. Tapp also was named to the Des Moines All-Region team when she had 30 kills against Illinois and Hawaii. In 2015, Tapp hit a team-best .350 playing both as a middle and right side attacker and ranked second on the team in kills (365) and kills per set (2.90). She also ranked third on the team in blocks per set (1.11). Entering her senior year, Tapp has already played in over 100 matches, had 650 kills and over 420 blocks. Read more as Tapp takes a look back at her previous three years and what is ahead of her in 2016.
Gophersports.com: Do you remember your summer before your freshman year? How is it different from your senior year or how much has changed for you over the course of your tenure?
Hannah Tapp: It was very different because I didn't know what to expect, so there was a lot of uncertainty with how summer training went as well as how prepared I would be for the upcoming season and Big 10 play. Now that I am a senior, I know what is expected of me and how to best prepare for the 2016 season. I can now help the incoming freshman class, knowing that I have been where they are and felt the things they are feeling. I think that being on campus all summer and helping them transition smoothly will be very beneficial once season rolls around.
GS: Now as a senior, what are your responsibilities?
HT: As seniors, our responsibilities are to make sure we are standing for the right things and leading by example during and between competitions. The culture of our program has been moving in a great direction throughout our time here and we need to make sure we uphold this and leave the program better than when we got here.
GS: If there was one thing your senior self could tell your freshman self, what would it be?
HT: The senior self of me would tell my freshman self to be patient and trust the process. Throughout my time here, I have made a lot of changes to my game and it has been difficult at times to focus on how these changes will help the team in the long run--rather than getting the immediate gratification of bouncing the ball hard. To Completely trusting the process of change through and through has been important.
GS: Minnesota only had one starting senior last year, this year, a more seasoned team. What will it take for the Gophers to be successful again in 2016?
HT: To be successful we will have to be a team and utilize all of our individual strengths to be the best we can collectively be!
GS: What's the best piece advice the coaching staff has given you during your Gopher career?
HT: "If we're going to be here, let's be here." Which may seem obvious, but I think it's transferrable to a lot of aspects in life. Don't just go through the motions--make the most out of every opportunity and do whatever your doing with every you've got.
