By: Malika Andrews |
Sophomore Hannah Troutman could be playing volleyball in the Pac-12 this season. But she chose to be a Pilot instead. And she is explosive at the net. Her swing is a weapon.
Troutman joins the Pilots after spending her freshman year as a go-to serve-receiver for Oregon State University. In Troutman’s tenure with the Beavers, she helped take the team to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament.
“It’s been really great,” Troutman said. “Brent (Crouch, head volleyball coach) welcomed me with open arms and just said, 'Hey, you are going to do this and you are going to do great. We need you.' It is so different than Oregon State because there, I could be replaced and so it is nice hearing from a coach that if I make one error I won’t be taken out. I am needed.”
When Troutman traded her orange jersey for a purple one, she also traded roles on the court. For Oregon State, Troutman played back row. She wanted to play outside hitter, the position she played in high school. But OSU wanted to keep her playing back row. So she decided to transfer to UP.
“Playing for the Pac-12 was an incredible experience and going to the Sweet 16 was amazing. But I am not 6’ 4", which is what OSU looks for, but I was a good defender so they recruited me for my defensive skills. But I missed hitting. I needed to hit.” She has risen to the challenge recording 27 kills and three blocks in her debut double-header weekend as a Pilot. Not only did Troutman rack up a lot of kills, she hits hard and smart. During her short time on The Bluff, she has established herself as a force to be reckoned with.
Crouch has no reservations about starting Troutman.
“She’s going to be a hitter and she’s going to be out there…a lot,” Crouch said. “She can hit the ball hard. She can hit it as hard as anyone. She is hitting it as hard as Pac-12 outsides, and harder than a lot of them. She will fit in really well. She is a really good hitter, she just needs a little more time.”
Although Troutman took a year off hitting while at Oregon State, she hasn’t lost her touch. As a two-time Oregon State player of the year as an outside hitter, Crouch is confident that her swing will come back in time.
Troutman played alongside junior Makayla Lindburg in high school. The girls each brought home a state title every year and three titles as teammates at Rimrock Volleyball. Lindburg played a key role in Troutman’s recruitment to The Bluff. “She’s a great player,” Lindburg said. “She’s strong and intelligent. I’ve played with her for so long. I couldn’t believe OSU wouldn’t use her for every skill she possesses. She is a gritty player that this team needed.”
While Lindburg’s shoulder surgery in December of 2014 has prevented her from playing 100 percent, she loves playing next to Lindburg again, even just in practice.
“We connect differently with each other,” Troutman said. “I know when she is right next to me that we don’t have to talk about things, we just know who is going to get what ball. We have this connection that is different than any other player.”
After Wednesday night’s 3-1 win against Portland State, the Pilots are 2-1 on the season. Troutman recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs against PSU. Starting Friday, the Pilots will host University of Nevada, Grand Canyon University and University of California, Riverside.
Malika Andrews is the Sports Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at andrewsm17@up.edu or on Twitter.
