University Southern California Trojans
Photo by: John McGillen
Get to Know: Taliyah Hanks
August 10, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
The USC freshman middle blocker is pursuing lofty goals on and off the court
The USC women's volleyball team welcomes seven newcomers to the floor this fall. Get to know the six freshmen and transfer setter in a series of get-to-know features here on USCTrojans.com. Freshman middle blocker Taliyah Hanks (Kalamazoo, Mich./Loy Norris HS) is enjoying the sun since moving Los Angeles and is excited to be a consistent contributor this season.
Get to know Taliyah Hanks!
Why did you choose USC?
For a lot of reasons. I love the team. Obviously, the coaches and the program were really important to me. I took my time on my visits, seeing every school and every culture, and USC really sold me on their program. Just all the girls were so good to me on my visit. But that aside, I think academically it's obviously a really strong university. I have big plans for graduate school, and I think it's a good start with the alumni network and just being here, learning from the best professors in the world. I think the location was also important. I love LA. I'm from Michigan, so the weather is a complete 180 degrees. It's always sunny.
What do you look to study in your post-graduate endeavours?
I have plans to go to medical school for psychiatry. It's just always been an interest of mine. Since I was a little girl, the brain has interested me. I'm studying neuroscience, and the brain is going to be really fun — learning all the different intricacies and how it works.
How have you adjusted to living in Los Angeles?
I'm not gonna lie, it was really hard in January — just being so far away from home, my mom and my dad. But, the girls, they're really accepting. They're like my sisters at this point. The girls and the coaching staff have made me really comfortable. And I think just spending more time here helped. Time heals all. There was definitely a learning curve the first couple months, but I feel like I'm in my groove now and I'm ready for the season to start.
How would you describe the team's culture?
We're really fun, really lighthearted and goofy. We don't take anything personal at all because we're so close. We appreciate each other's different perspectives and I think we just love each other. Off the court, we hang out all the time. These girls are my best friends. We get along and just play volleyball
When did you realize that you wanted to play volleyball at a higher level, collegiate level, and when did you realize you could?
I started playing volleyball my freshman year of high school. I started playing because I saw my friends play, and it looked really fun. That's what kind of started the passion. And at the end of my freshman year, going into my sophomore year, I started playing club. And my mom started paying serious money for me to play. I started seeing improvement, and in March of my sophomore year, I started getting a couple emails from a couple division I and division II schools. From there, I thought: "Let's do this thing." June 15, 2024 came around. I was talking to other smaller D1 schools, a couple D2 schools. I was completely content because I was just trusting God's plan. I had it in my heart that I'll be wherever God wants me to be. We had nationals that summer, and big schools like USC were there and they got to see me play. From nationals that's when I started getting recruited by USC. I was just trusting the process for the most part. I didn't have it in my head like, 'oh, I'm gonna go D1 work straight from the start.'
What other sports did you play growing up?
I played basketball. The majority of my life. I played up until freshman year. I was a freshman in varsity, and then I dropped it. Volleyball started getting more important to me, and I started getting more into volleyball instead.
What's one word your new teammates would use to describe you?
Energetic.
If you had to introduce yourself to someone without using the word or mentioning volleyball, how would you do that?
I'm very empathetic and I just care a lot. I want to see you succeed. I'm a selfless person.
What's your favorite way to unwind from a match?
Eat a postgame meal – a Chipotle bowl, specifically. And I will give you my order: white rice, black beans, chipotle honey chicken, corn, green salsa, cheese and a side of chips and queso. Once I get the Chipotle bowl, I go home and then put on a comfort show. My comfort show is Gilmore Girl or seasonal shows like Love Island.
What are your pregame rituals?
I definitely pray, and I ask my parents to pray for me too. I just sit with myself and think 'How do I want to show up?' And if there's a scouting report, I like to look that over too, and then meditate on that too.
You're in charge of the aux on a road trip. What is the first song and why?
I think Wonderwall by Oasis. Okay. I think that song just everybody knows and it gets you. It's nostalgic.
What is something that you've discovered since moving to Los Angeles or what is still on your Los Angeles bucket list?
Okay, controversial take — I think Erewhon is completely overrated. But I've been to the beach and I really like Laguna Beach. I've also had Randy's Donuts. The huge pink Texas donut was so good. I think I am most excited to see the stunning views Los Angeles has to offer.
What's your go-to restaurant near campus?
I love sushi and there's this spot right down the street from campus called Ebaes. The sushi is cheap, but really good quality. And also In-n-Out.
Who on the team makes you laugh the most and why?
The trio of Leah Ford, Mia Tvrdy and Adonia Faumuina is unbeatable. They're so funny. They just know what to say at the right time. They know how to bring you up if you're feeling down. But they're just so sweet.
What is an individual goal you have for yourself?
I think just being consistent and showing up every day ready to work because I obviously don't know the outcome. I can't control the outcome of anything, but I can control the controllable. And so I think just showing up and being consistent is a gold mine.
Get to know Taliyah Hanks!
Why did you choose USC?
For a lot of reasons. I love the team. Obviously, the coaches and the program were really important to me. I took my time on my visits, seeing every school and every culture, and USC really sold me on their program. Just all the girls were so good to me on my visit. But that aside, I think academically it's obviously a really strong university. I have big plans for graduate school, and I think it's a good start with the alumni network and just being here, learning from the best professors in the world. I think the location was also important. I love LA. I'm from Michigan, so the weather is a complete 180 degrees. It's always sunny.
What do you look to study in your post-graduate endeavours?
I have plans to go to medical school for psychiatry. It's just always been an interest of mine. Since I was a little girl, the brain has interested me. I'm studying neuroscience, and the brain is going to be really fun — learning all the different intricacies and how it works.
How have you adjusted to living in Los Angeles?
I'm not gonna lie, it was really hard in January — just being so far away from home, my mom and my dad. But, the girls, they're really accepting. They're like my sisters at this point. The girls and the coaching staff have made me really comfortable. And I think just spending more time here helped. Time heals all. There was definitely a learning curve the first couple months, but I feel like I'm in my groove now and I'm ready for the season to start.
How would you describe the team's culture?
We're really fun, really lighthearted and goofy. We don't take anything personal at all because we're so close. We appreciate each other's different perspectives and I think we just love each other. Off the court, we hang out all the time. These girls are my best friends. We get along and just play volleyball
When did you realize that you wanted to play volleyball at a higher level, collegiate level, and when did you realize you could?
I started playing volleyball my freshman year of high school. I started playing because I saw my friends play, and it looked really fun. That's what kind of started the passion. And at the end of my freshman year, going into my sophomore year, I started playing club. And my mom started paying serious money for me to play. I started seeing improvement, and in March of my sophomore year, I started getting a couple emails from a couple division I and division II schools. From there, I thought: "Let's do this thing." June 15, 2024 came around. I was talking to other smaller D1 schools, a couple D2 schools. I was completely content because I was just trusting God's plan. I had it in my heart that I'll be wherever God wants me to be. We had nationals that summer, and big schools like USC were there and they got to see me play. From nationals that's when I started getting recruited by USC. I was just trusting the process for the most part. I didn't have it in my head like, 'oh, I'm gonna go D1 work straight from the start.'
What other sports did you play growing up?
I played basketball. The majority of my life. I played up until freshman year. I was a freshman in varsity, and then I dropped it. Volleyball started getting more important to me, and I started getting more into volleyball instead.
What's one word your new teammates would use to describe you?
Energetic.
If you had to introduce yourself to someone without using the word or mentioning volleyball, how would you do that?
I'm very empathetic and I just care a lot. I want to see you succeed. I'm a selfless person.
What's your favorite way to unwind from a match?
Eat a postgame meal – a Chipotle bowl, specifically. And I will give you my order: white rice, black beans, chipotle honey chicken, corn, green salsa, cheese and a side of chips and queso. Once I get the Chipotle bowl, I go home and then put on a comfort show. My comfort show is Gilmore Girl or seasonal shows like Love Island.
What are your pregame rituals?
I definitely pray, and I ask my parents to pray for me too. I just sit with myself and think 'How do I want to show up?' And if there's a scouting report, I like to look that over too, and then meditate on that too.
You're in charge of the aux on a road trip. What is the first song and why?
I think Wonderwall by Oasis. Okay. I think that song just everybody knows and it gets you. It's nostalgic.
What is something that you've discovered since moving to Los Angeles or what is still on your Los Angeles bucket list?
Okay, controversial take — I think Erewhon is completely overrated. But I've been to the beach and I really like Laguna Beach. I've also had Randy's Donuts. The huge pink Texas donut was so good. I think I am most excited to see the stunning views Los Angeles has to offer.
What's your go-to restaurant near campus?
I love sushi and there's this spot right down the street from campus called Ebaes. The sushi is cheap, but really good quality. And also In-n-Out.
Who on the team makes you laugh the most and why?
The trio of Leah Ford, Mia Tvrdy and Adonia Faumuina is unbeatable. They're so funny. They just know what to say at the right time. They know how to bring you up if you're feeling down. But they're just so sweet.
What is an individual goal you have for yourself?
I think just being consistent and showing up every day ready to work because I obviously don't know the outcome. I can't control the outcome of anything, but I can control the controllable. And so I think just showing up and being consistent is a gold mine.
Players Mentioned
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