Known for her dominance at the net and exceptional blocking prowess, Hannah Hair, a fifth-year middle blocker for the Seattle Pacific University women’s volleyball team, has cemented her legacy as one of the program’s most decorated athletes.
Hair began her collegiate journey at SPU in 2020, during the challenging era of remote learning and pandemic restrictions. Social interactions were limited, and practices were far from ordinary.
“It was a crazy time,” Hair said. “Practices were in pods. I could only see five of my teammates at a time — maybe even just four. Workouts were moved to [the upper level] instead of the gym to make room for distancing. It was interesting, but I think we grew a lot through that, both individually and as a team.”
Despite these odd conditions, Hair made an immediate impact in her first season. In the 2020-2021 season, she played in all 18 matches, leading the Falcons with 90 blocks, ranking No. 1 in the GNAC at 1.34 per game. She also tied for the second-most kills in the conference with 170 and posted a .340 hitting percentage, the second-best in the GNAC and the fifth-highest for an SPU player in over a decade.
Building on her strong debut, Hair played in 23 of 25 matches in the 2021-2022 season, leading the GNAC in hitting percentage (.333) and ranking second in blocks per set (1.35). She recorded 217 kills, including 10 double-digit performances, and achieved a career-high hitting percentage of .727 in one match, while also reaching her 500th career point.
Reflecting on her time at Seattle Pacific University, Hair expressed immense gratitude for the support system that helped her succeed these past years.
“It’s not a career or a journey that can be done alone, and I’m not blind to that. Honestly, it’s funny because it was my career, but I did such a small part of it. It was the people who supported me and taught me and guided me along the way here,” Hair said. “It’s going to feel strange leaving this little SPU bubble, where you’re always surrounded by your favorite people and so many resources, to being out on your own and independent.”
Off the court, Hair has been a model of consistency. She earned College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District honors and was named to the GNAC All-Academic team in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Balancing a rigorous athletic schedule with academic excellence, making her a well-rounded student-athlete.
She successfully ended her volleyball career on a high note. Once again, she made the GNAC first team and broke the GNAC collegiate career record of 597 blocks with 618. She also topped her single-match best of 11 blocks with 14 on Nov. 9 against Western Washington.
As her collegiate volleyball career nears its conclusion, Hannah Hair is beginning to accept her next chapter.
“I always knew I wanted to play in college and even considered going pro — maybe overseas or something,” Hair said. “But I think there’s a time for everything, and it feels like my time for volleyball might be coming to an end.”
After graduation, Hair plans to move to Texas, where she hopes to start fresh alongside her roommate. With a degree in exercise science, she’s already begun researching and applying for jobs, preparing for life beyond the court.
Hannah Hair’s legacy at SPU goes beyond the awards and accolades. As a trailblazer who achieved numerous “firsts” for her program, she leaves a storied career and sets a high standard for future athletes to follow.