Laurie Corbelli knew Hollann Hans was talented. Hans had the opportunity to be an impact player for Aggie Volleyball. Corbelli just didn't know how impactful, or how soon it would happen. It didn't take long to find out. Hans' impact was immediate and impressive.
Hans earned a long list of honors and awards in 2016. She was SEC Freshman of the Week twice and a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team. She was named AVCA All-South Region Freshman of the Year, and also earned PrepVolleyball.com All-Freshman Team Honorable Mention honors. Hans also shared the team's Most Improved Player award at the end of the season.
The awards and honors were very well deserved. Hans was second on the team with 280 total kills in 2016. She appeared in all 30 matches for the Aggies, starting 12. She impacted the game with kills, blocks and a serve that gave opponents fits. Hans made it look pretty easy during her first go-around in the SEC, but the instant success caught her by surprise.
"I honestly didn't think I would play much," said Hans. "I just wanted to come in, do the best I could and hopefully get a shot. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd play as much as I did as a freshman. I just came in and worked hard. I didn't expect the success, but it was a great surprise."
Corbelli is proud of stats and awards, but that isn't what stands out the most when it comes to Hans. It's the intangibles that Hans brought to Aggieland that impressed, and continues to impress Corbelli the most.
"I knew we were getting a solid player and a strong kid," Corbelli remarked. "I didn't know she was going to be so coachable and such a good teammate. So many kids that come in with that much talent aren't always the best teammates. She has the whole package, and it's pretty phenomenal."
That's high praise from Corbelli, who has seen her share of talented players over the years. According to the head coach, Hans' focus might be what sets her apart even further.
"She's an extremely focused player," noted Corbelli. "She had a lot of learning to do early on, but she's a quick learner. She listens and gets it done. Many kids have focus, but that focus comes and goes, especially in the flow of the match. It's hard to maintain a level of focus in our sport, but that's one of her best strengths."
Along with great focus comes a personality that is second to none, according to Corbelli. Corbelli describes Hans as nice, thoughtful, respectful, grounded and humble. Those qualities combined make for a highly coachable player and a great teammate.
"She's so respectful and appreciative of coaching," Corbelli added. "That's just how she is, and the great thing about it is it's totally sincere and from her heart."
There's just one thing missing.
"The only thing a coach could maybe want is for her to stop being so darn nice and get a little mean on the court sometimes," joked Corbelli. "She brings the heat with swings and just pounds the ball. Imagine how hard she could hit if we got her really fired up. She's just a pure joy to coach, and we're thrilled to have her here."
If you've watched Hans play, it's probably hard to imagine her getting really fired up or vocal. Hans is a quiet leader, an actions-speak-louder-than-words kind of person. Things have changed a bit, however. Though just a sophomore, Hans is one of the more experienced players on this year's squad. She already has a lot of matches and swings under her belt. Because of that, leading with both actions and words is something Hans continues to work on.
"I've had to step out of my comfort zone to become more of a vocal leader," noted Hans. "I try to lead by example, and it's not my nature to be super vocal and talkative. I think it's a work in progress."
The coaching staff tries to help with that progress as much as possible. Opportunities to speak during team meetings and film sessions are there. Corbelli has already seen vast improvement and is excited about continued growth for Hans in that area.
"Hollann is very thoughtful before she speaks," Corbelli admitted. "I think the team appreciates that, so when she does speak, the team pays extra attention. It's more about the actions for her instead of words, and honestly, that's ok. If our young players follow her actions, we'll be very happy with that."
Hans may have snuck up on opponents as a freshman in 2016. That's not the case this season and moving forward. Opponents are well aware of Hans, and they game plan for No. 9.
"In a way, it's an honor if other coaches and teams are focusing more on me this year," Hans acknowledged. "It just puts more of a drive in me to mix up my shots and keep them guessing."
So far, so good for Hans as a sophomore. She leads the team in several categories. The impressive numbers are there, and Corbelli understands the load Hans carries each and every time on the floor.
"Teams come after her hard," commented Corbelli. "They know they need to wear her down. She has a big job, but she does so well with taking care of all aspects of her game. She continues to grow in terms of seeing the court and bringing different shots to the table. We're asking her to carry such a major load, but I'm glad it's her. She's very capable of it. She never thinks she has it all figured out, and she's so willing to go through the process and get better in every way."
It helps when you enjoy what you're doing and love where you are. That's certainly the case for Hans. Her willingness to go through the process, get better and continue to grow comes largely from her love of the sport. It also comes from her love for A&M. Texas A&M, in fact, was the only official visit she took.
"I grew up an Aggie so this is where I wanted to go for as long as I can remember," Hans disclosed. "It's a great atmosphere. The coaches and teammates have been so welcoming, and everyone treats each other like family. I knew from the beginning that Texas A&M was the right place for me."
Hans has already experienced a bunch during her short A&M career, both on the court and off. Along with the volleyball success, she took a trip to Haiti to serve with Aggie Athletics. She's involved with FCA and takes part in opportunities like The Big Event. Selfless service is very important to her, and being a student-athlete at Texas A&M gives her the platform to be involved.
"I just feel like it's so important to give back and do things outside of yourself," said Hans. "It's important to think of others before yourself, and I love giving back to the community. The Lord has blessed me with so much, so I want to give back."
While growing up, Hans looked up to former Aggie volleyball players like Lindsey Miller. Now Hans is the role model for others. Hans couldn't help but smile when asked about the 12th Man and her fans.
"It's the greatest honor," Hans remarked. "Looking up to those girls, I was hoping that I would be there one day. Now that I am, I can't believe it. Whenever I put that jersey on, I thank the Lord because it's the best blessing ever. Having young people look up to me is so much fun, and I'm just grateful for the opportunity."
As impressive as 2016 was, there has been no signs of a "sophomore slump" for Hans. She currently leads the team in several categories including total kills, points, points per set, kills per set and aces. Hans wants to continue proving herself. She values her role as a leader on this year's very young squad. She isn't comfortable or complacent after a stellar freshman campaign. She certainly isn't satisfied. She is striving for more, and most importantly, enjoying every minute at Texas A&M.
"It has lived up to everything I imagined and more," Hans finished. "The resources we have and support we get from the 12th Man is everything I could've dreamed of."