Sorensen Learning the Coaching Ropes
By Christy Cabrera Chirinos
HurricaneSports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Hannah Sorensen had, unfortunately, already dealt with a concussion.
She knew the symptoms, understood what her recovery would be like and was aware of how the injury would impact not only her time on the court, but her work in the classroom, too.
What the setter didn’t know last September when she was diagnosed with her third concussion in four years was how this particular injury would change her entire life.
This time, the symptoms were severe and long-lasting. This time, doctors diagnosed her with post-concussion syndrome. This time, Sorensen was told she had to step away from volleyball, the sport she’d come to Miami to play, the sport she’d loved since she was nine years old.
“I had to go to physical therapy two or three times a week, just trying to get my eyes up to speed again and learning how to get my heart rate back up,” Sorensen said. “It was tough. Not only could I not play volleyball, I couldn’t work out. I couldn’t watch anything on a screen. I couldn’t really be around loud music or my friends.
“I just felt like not only was I stripped of volleyball, I was stripped of everything, all at once.”
Sorensen, who at that point was starting her junior year, withdrew from her classes to focus on getting better. Eventually, she sought solace from the people who’d brought her from Utah to Miami in the first place – the Hurricanes’ coaching staff.
After a few conversations with head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara, associate head coach Kasey Crider and assistant coach Jillian Hadder, an idea presented itself: what if, when Sorensen felt better, she rejoined her team in a new role as a student coach?
As one of the veterans on the Miami roster, Sorensen had already earned the respect of her younger teammates. And she’d done such an impressive job grasping the concepts she’d been taught, it seemed a natural conclusion she’d be able to teach them, too.
Most importantly, it would keep her closer to the program, which, despite her injury, was something Sorensen wanted.
“She’d already done some coaching in our summer camps and she’d worked with some high-rated players,” Crider said. “We gave her those groups because of her ability as a teacher, her ability as a leader and her quality of character. Hannah was the consummate Hurricanes volleyball player and we wanted to keep her around because she just sets an example implicitly and explicitly. She’s just an incredible human being who cares about this place and the people in it.”
Sorensen, who had been considering a potential career as a coach even before her injury, jumped at the opportunity. And this weekend, when the Hurricanes travel to face both Clemson and Georgia Tech, Sorensen will be where she’s been nearly all season – on the bench, helping Gandara, Crider and Hadder direct her teammates.
“It was really, really hard coming to terms with the fact that I had to give up the game or playing the game,” Sorensen said. “But in reality, it’s been a change in role. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it’s been so much fun. I’ve had a blast just learning from the coaches and being able to be around my teammates. That’s been really rewarding already. It’s been great and I’m glad I can still be around.”
As part of her work with the Hurricanes, Sorensen – whose 1,005 career assists rank sixth-most in program history – helps Crider train the players at her former position and studies film to help the coaching staff develop offensive game plans.
Her symptoms still flare up on occasion, so she’s had to miss both practices and games at times.
But coaches and players say her input has made a difference.
“I think she’s really shown how much she cares about the program, the team and how much she’s devoted her time to making the most of everything for herself and for us,” said freshman setter Savannah Vach. “It would have been so easy for her to just be like, ‘My volleyball career is over’ and that wasn’t the case. She felt like it wasn’t right for her to step away. It’s just really cool because not a lot of people would not be as involved as she is.”
As much as she’s appreciated and as much as she’s enjoyed her new role, though, Sorensen still says there are days when coming to the gym is bittersweet.
She’s grateful for the opportunity she’s been given, but, she still wishes she could be on the floor, playing for the Hurricanes.
Still, on those days, she knows she can find support from Miami’s coaches and her teammates. And she knows the experience she’s gaining will make a difference in her future.
“This place has taught me so much. There’s such an emphasis on learning and adapting to change and being tough and if it weren’t for this place and all it emphasizes, an event like this would have been a lot harder to deal with,” Sorensen said. “I think the thing that’s really cool about Miami and our volleyball coaches is that they teach us how to be really good at fighting battles and it’s no different for me. My battle is different, but the process is the same.
“Just being able to figure that out, this place has had such an impact on me and I think the biggest reason is because of this coaching staff. … I think if I can continue to learn from them about the game and I can learn how to teach the game and if I can be half as impactful as they’ve been to me, then coaching can really be a rewarding career.”
