« Volleyball 2014

Jennifer Hamson

School
Brigham Young University
Position
Opposite Hitter
Major
Exercise Science

Classroom

Hamson has excelled in the classroom despite being a two-sport athlete at BYU. Because she chose to redshirt her senior season of volleyball last season, Hamson graduated in April 2014 in exercise science. Because she is coming back for her senior season this fall, she is required to take 8.5 credit hours of classes. Instead of just doing the bare minimum, she decided to take a full load of 13 credit hours this semester to push herself.

Despite having to deal with playing two sports throughout her BYU career, Hamson has done well in the classroom. Following her successful 2012 volleyball season, she was named to the WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. She was again named to the honor roll following her basketball season last year. In fact, she has been named to the honor roll for every season she has played, including being named a Mountain West Scholar Athlete in 2010 when BYU was still a member of the Mountain West Conference.

Hamson continues to take her studies in the classroom very seriously and is always eager to help and encourage her teammates to succeed.

Character

Hamson has shown her character by returning to play volleyball for her final senior season of eligibility. After being named a First-Team All-American at the end of the volleyball season in 2012, she decided to redshirt in the sport to focus on becoming better at her second sport - basketball.

By the end of the basketball season last year, she had helped her team reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001, she was named an All-American in basketball and she was also promptly drafted to the WNBA in the second round. 

Having already graduated, Hamson decided to return to BYU to exhaust her final season of volleyball eligibility because she had made a promise to her volleyball head coach that she would. Hamson could have easily started competition in the WNBA but will now stay at BYU for her final season of volleyball.

Because Hamson played both basketball and volleyball her first three seasons, she was able to dedicate all of her time and energy on basketball last year. She will be able to now do the same thing for volleyball this year.

Community

Hamson has been a prominent member of her community since she arrived at BYU. She is always willing to help teach those who know little about volleyball or basketball.

Each summer since she arrived to BYU, Hamson has contributed hours of her time at volleyball and basketball camps. The camps are designed for children ages 12-18 who want to learn how to better play sports.

Additionally, Hamson has given countless hours of her time to interviews. Known to keep to herself for the most part, interviews are not the easiest thing for her. She has, however, improved her techniques over time and is becoming more and more comfortable in giving her time talking to complete strangers.

Hamson also volunteers countless hours of her time to a church calling. She does not get paid for any of the time she spends doing her calling.

Hamson is one of the kindest student-athletes I have ever had the privilege to work with.

Competition

Hamson has excelled on both the volleyball and basketball courts. After playing only basketball last season, Hamson was named an All-American in the sport. She was also named the WCC Player of the Year and the WCC Defensive Player of the Year.

In volleyball, Hamson has been named an AVCA All-American in both 2011 and 2012. In 2011 she was given Honorable Mention accolades and in 2012 she was named First-Team All-American. Additionally, in 2012 Hamson was named the WCC Player of the Year for volleyball.

Hamson has started in nearly every match for the Cougars since her freshman year. She collected over 400 kills and over 200 digs in each of her sophomore and junior seasons. In 2012 she was ranked No. 17 in points per set in the NCAA with 5.03. She also received Volleyball Magazine All-America Second Team honors her junior season.

Hamson joined BYU’s 1,000 kills club at the end of 2012 and is currently fourth all-time in kills, fifth all-time in attempts, fifth all-time in hitting percentage, sixth all-time in block assists in the BYU rally-scoring era.