University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Haley Hop Named to GSC All-Decade Team, Preparing for Sixth Season in Spring
8/26/2020 3:52:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- It has been a wild summer away for Southern Miss beach volleyball standout Haley Hop.
The former indoor star at Alabama-Huntsville was named to the Gulf South Conference's All-Decade Team, and while her first beach season as a Golden Eagle ended prematurely due to COVID-19, she has been steadily preparing for her sixth and final year of eligibility.
"Anyone who's played with me knows you have to drag me off the sand to get me to stop playing," Hop said.
And her diligence has not waned since the intercollegiate action paused. While she missed out on gym access, like so many other athletes nationwide, she took full advantage of her surroundings to focus on high-rep, body-weight workouts and additional cardio in the Alabama humidity.Â
Her return is welcome news to head coach Shawn Taylor and the Golden Eagle program, which had started 5-2. Hop went 6-1 with Hallie Phelan at the No. 3 pairing during the short season, including wins over New Orleans and ULM, the latter being the program's first-ever in CCSA play.
When Hop, a native of Madison in northern Alabama, was set to begin her collegiate career, beach volleyball was still in its earlier stages nationwide. She admits she was an undersized outside hitter in high school and that she could be a stronger defensive outset on the floor. Hop proceeded to be UAH's starting libero all four years and now holds three school records: digs per set in a season and career, as well as total.
"It really allowed me to see things in a different perspective and all the assets of a team," Hop said. "It gave me an appreciation for how it all works as a unit, and that it begins with a good pass. I had the best experience at UAH with my teammates and coaches."
Hop also competed six times against current Southern Miss indoor head coach Stephanie Radecki when she was leading North Alabama.
"Coach Radecki saw in me a set of skills that would be valuable here," she said, while also mentioning her love of being able to play both offense and defense in beach, as well as height not being as big a factor. "I had a good base that she got to build on, and it's carried over with Coach Shawn. I probably got 10 times better over the course of a month."
The Chargers won 82 games in her tenure (2015-18), and Hop did not stop there. She earned several academic accolades over the course of that time and has since earned her bachelor's degree in civil engineering, a master's in economic development that she finished this month and is currently pursuing her MBA for next August.
The former indoor star at Alabama-Huntsville was named to the Gulf South Conference's All-Decade Team, and while her first beach season as a Golden Eagle ended prematurely due to COVID-19, she has been steadily preparing for her sixth and final year of eligibility.
"Anyone who's played with me knows you have to drag me off the sand to get me to stop playing," Hop said.
And her diligence has not waned since the intercollegiate action paused. While she missed out on gym access, like so many other athletes nationwide, she took full advantage of her surroundings to focus on high-rep, body-weight workouts and additional cardio in the Alabama humidity.Â
Her return is welcome news to head coach Shawn Taylor and the Golden Eagle program, which had started 5-2. Hop went 6-1 with Hallie Phelan at the No. 3 pairing during the short season, including wins over New Orleans and ULM, the latter being the program's first-ever in CCSA play.
When Hop, a native of Madison in northern Alabama, was set to begin her collegiate career, beach volleyball was still in its earlier stages nationwide. She admits she was an undersized outside hitter in high school and that she could be a stronger defensive outset on the floor. Hop proceeded to be UAH's starting libero all four years and now holds three school records: digs per set in a season and career, as well as total.
"It really allowed me to see things in a different perspective and all the assets of a team," Hop said. "It gave me an appreciation for how it all works as a unit, and that it begins with a good pass. I had the best experience at UAH with my teammates and coaches."
Hop also competed six times against current Southern Miss indoor head coach Stephanie Radecki when she was leading North Alabama.
"Coach Radecki saw in me a set of skills that would be valuable here," she said, while also mentioning her love of being able to play both offense and defense in beach, as well as height not being as big a factor. "I had a good base that she got to build on, and it's carried over with Coach Shawn. I probably got 10 times better over the course of a month."
The Chargers won 82 games in her tenure (2015-18), and Hop did not stop there. She earned several academic accolades over the course of that time and has since earned her bachelor's degree in civil engineering, a master's in economic development that she finished this month and is currently pursuing her MBA for next August.
Players Mentioned
/ Beach Volleyball
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