Sooner Profile: Hannah Sharp

NORMAN, Okla. -- Hannah Sharp is from New York. No, not that New York. She is from Fishers, a suburb of Rochester on the opposite side of the state. Even so, you may be wondering how someone from New York ends up in Oklahoma.

For Sharp, it is actually quite simple. One of the most outgoing players on the Sooner volleyball team, Sharp simply wanted to get away and experience some new things.

Now that she is here, after a brief stop at Louisville for her freshman year, Sharp wouldn't trade it to be anywhere else. She loves the culture, loves the people, and above all, loves her team.

An instrumental part of OU's success over the last few years, Sharp is just trying to take it all in this season, her last as a collegiate volleyball player. She describes her teammates some of her best friends in the world and is sad to see her career coming to a close.

At the same time, Sharp is also excited about the future. With plans to study abroad next year, Sharp will continue venture away from home. That's just the person she is. And if history is any indication, success will follow wherever she goes.

We talked to Hannah last week about the past, the present and the future.

On her increased role this season:
"The difference between this year and last year, for one I'm wearing the different color, which is good, and I play six rotations now instead of three so it's more time on the court. I have more responsibility and am kind of the quarterback of the back row. I have to run the defense and make sure everyone knows where they're going."

On the significance of the libero wearing a different color jersey:
"The different color is just there to let the referee know that I don't count as a sub. My job is still the same as it was last year, now I can just go in and out."

On the camarederie of the five seniors:
"We definitely have a special chemistry, not only among ourselves but with the rest of the team. We've been through everything and it's our last year to play, so we just want to make it worth it. Every day you realize your time is getting shorter in terms of being a college athlete. We not only have that urgency but we also just love playing together. We enjoy being together every day and that really has helped establish the tone for the rest of the team."

On her hometown of Fishers, N.Y.:
"Fishers is in western New York. It's within Victor which is a suburb of Rochester, so I'm close to Buffalo... and the Bills. I'm a big Bills fan."

On her decision to move away from home after high school:
"When I was looking at colleges, I was considering some in-state schools but they just didn't excite me. I wanted to get away, meet new people and see different things. I really wanted to test myself and I didn't think I could do that close to home."

On the biggest adjustment she faced when she moved away:
"Moving from New York to Kentucky, I really had to adjust to the culture. Within the first month I was down there I realized how much more relaxed the people were. I'm the complete opposite. I'm always 'go, go, go' and am in a hurry all the time, so that was a huge difference. The toughest thing about being away from home the first year was that I couldn't drive home anymore. Phone calls had to be good enough, so that was a big adjustment as well."

On what she enjoys most about living in Oklahoma:
"When anyone hears that I'm from New York, they think of New York City. But even being from a suburb, I feel like people are more friendly here. I really think these are the friendliest people in the States. Everyone is friendly and laid back, and it's really relaxing. People are always smiling and willing to go out of their way to help you out."

On her plans for the future:
"I'm getting my degree in finance and am not completely sure where I want to go, but I at least know I don't want to be a stock broker. I'm taking a fifth year and am planning to go study abroad and just do things I haven't done like go to OU-Texas and some of the other stuff in the fall I haven't had the chance to experience. It's not like we miss that much because in season we're always focused on what we have to do. You catch what you can and I think it really makes you appreciate more every game you get to go to and the experience you get from the few ones you do."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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