The rise for Oswego’s Hannah Herrick has been nothing short of remarkable.
From picking up volleyball during the pandemic to becoming a star for the Panthers to committing to Dayton, the 6-foot-2 senior outside hitter has had quite a journey in the sport.
“It hasn’t hit me yet that I’m a senior and this is my last one,” Herrick said. “Every season you all look up to the seniors and now you’re there at that point. That’s just crazy. I’m excited for it.”
When you consider what she and her family have gone through off the court, it makes the rise all the more incredible.
Her mother, Dana, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and has had the cancer return twice. Her father, Dave, suffered a heart attack in May while Hannah and her younger sister Harper, an incoming freshman at Oswego, were at practice during the club volleyball season.
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Everyone is doing well now, but it was still a lot to handle. Fortunately, she has volleyball to help her out.
“I feel like what helped me the most is all of these people I met through volleyball, my best friends for life and my coaches who are so good,” Hannah said. “I can just lean on them, and that’s really all you need. It definitely helped keep my mind off of all the family stuff I had going on.”
Dana Herrick feels fortunate that she had Hannah. who outgrew gymnastics, try volleyball.
“I think volleyball has helped her, given her something else so she doesn’t have to focus on all of the health stuff we’ve dealt with at home,” Dana said. “She loves the sport, but she loves her friends. That’s a big part of it for her.
“Through all of this, I’ve tried to make sure that life goes on. Life has to go on, and we will continue, and it will be OK. Volleyball has been an incredible blessing to our family.”
Oswego coach Gary Mosley knows that family resolve has helped Hannah stay strong.
“She just stays so positive,” Mosley said of Herrick. “She’s an amazing kid. That’s just how she’s raised. Her home life built that and they just keep grinding. They’re just so positive.”
He was also happy to hear how Hannah credited her volleyball community in helping her get through the tough times.
“We have a standard,” Mosley said. “We call ourselves the OVP family, and we truly stand by the family part of it. We’re always here for each other. We really try to preach that.
“Knowing that it’s getting across to a player of her caliber means a ton to me.”
Herrick is already one of the program’s best players, and now Mosley pointed out, she’s ready to take an even bigger step. Coming into last season, she was on the college recruiting grind and it took a toll on her. She was still a second team all-state selection.
“She was banged up,” Mosley said. “When she came to us, she was mentally stressed, physically stressed. Last year was a really tough year trying to find her groove.
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“This year, she’s completely different and I’m so excited for her. Her mental space, she’s so chill. She’s more relaxed. Her game is more relaxed. She’s just in a whole different mindset, different physically. The sky is the limit for her this year.”
With her college commitment in hand and everyone healthy and doing well at home, Herrick is ready to focus on her senior season and go out on a high note.
And her two biggest fans will enjoy the show.
“Volleyball can be a distraction,” Herrick said. “My mom is such an amazing human. She’s always there for me — my dad as well. I just have a great support system.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.