Hannah Di Genova is a part of a quartet of Nevada softball gamers who has constructed the Wolf Pack right into a premier program within the Mountain West. A fourth-year senior, Di Genova — alongside with Haylee Engelbrecht, Maya Larsen and Madison Clark — is considered one of 4 gamers who has been on the staff since 2023. In that point, these gamers have seen three totally different head coaches; seen Hixson Park get a brand new enjoying floor and new lights that shall be accomplished subsequent month; and led Nevada to its first Mountain West regular-season title, that coming final 12 months to cap back-to-back 40-plus-win seasons. In her last school season, Di Genova’s final main staff objectives are to win a MW Tournament title and safe an NCAA Regional berth. She has helped do her half early this season, hitting .333 with a team-best 4 homers and 11 RBIs by Nevada’s first 15 video games.
For her stellar begin to her season, Di Genova is Nevada Sports Net’s Wolf Pack Athlete of the Month in February. You can watch our video interview with her under or learn the Q&A beneath that. This characteristic is introduced in partnership with Champion Chevrolet.
Wolf Pack Athlete of the Month: Hannah Di Genova
Q&A with Hannah Di Genova
Nevada Sports Net: Congrats on the profession you’ve got had at Nevada. You’re now a senior. Does this 12 months really feel any totally different realizing that is your fourth and last 12 months at Nevada?
Hannah Di Genova: It does. Obviously having this be my final 12 months may be very thrilling, very nerve-wracking. I’ve performed softball since I used to be about 5, so simply realizing all of the work I put in with every little thing and seeing it repay proper now, it is thrilling.
Nevada Sports Net: You’re from Woodland Hills. That’s in Southern California. Tell us your origin story with softball. Was it at all times that sport? Did you play quite a lot of totally different sports activities?
Hannah Di Genova: I grew up enjoying soccer and softball. I began off with soccer after which truly considered one of my buddies, her mother was telling my mother and father, “Hey, get her in softball. Come on! Just see what’s going to happen. She’s ready. She’s good. Throw her in. See what happens.” My mother needed me to be cheerleader at first, and I used to be, like, “I don’t know if that was made for me.” So, I used to be doing soccer and softball for a very very long time. Then it acquired to the purpose the place I acquired to journey ball and I had to transfer on to journey ball and I had decide. I picked softball, and I feel I selected proper.
Nevada Sports Net: What was the recruitment like coming to Nevada. What you within the college and the way did that every one play out?
Hannah Di Genova: Nevada, they supplied me, I got here on my go to, I noticed campus, noticed every little thing about it and I simply form of fell in love with the town and the city and simply every little thing about it.
Nevada Sports Net: How have you ever seen perhaps this system change because you first acquired right here?
Hannah Di Genova: It’s truthfully actually loopy and superior to see how a lot this program has grown in my 4 years right here. I bear in mind on my go to, the sphere wasn’t even redone And then my freshman 12 months, we’re training on Wolf Pack Park, making a makeshift subject for a whole semester. And then lastly getting the play on it. And then I simply bear in mind our locker room, too. We had a smaller little locker room unit after which the subsequent 12 months it acquired larger and now it is even larger this 12 months. With these new head coaches and Coach Vic(toria) Hayward and everybody on workers, them realizing a lot concerning the sport and them actually rising our program, it has been superior to be part of and see.
Nevada Sports Net: And for you guys’ dwelling opener, you are supposed to have lights on the sphere. Just to be a part of that course of and turning this system into one thing that is higher than the way you discovered it, that has to be a fairly good feeling.
Hannah Di Genova: It’s been superior. The lights are literally lastly beginning to stand up. I feel there’s one more pole they want to put up, after which I feel we’re prepared for for night time video games.
Nevada Sports Net: Let’s stroll by your profession. Your freshman 12 months, you performed slightly bit on and off. Your sophomore 12 months, not very a lot, about 10 at-bats. And then final 12 months, you principally began each sport and also you have been a key cog. Take us by what final 12 months meant to you and what went into that breakout.
Hannah Di Genova: Last 12 months was simply having a coach that actually had belief and perception in me and her constantly pushing me and difficult me on daily basis at apply and in video games. It was simply actually superior to have that assist and every little thing and simply lastly getting my likelihood to show myself.
Nevada Sports Net: Did you’re feeling such as you at all times had that in you? Was there some doubt that you could possibly do it at this stage? Or did you simply want that chance?
Hannah Di Genova: I feel it was more so I wanted the chance.
Nevada Sports Net: This 12 months, you are hitting 333. You’ve acquired 4 dwelling runs, 11 RBIs in 15 video games. What was your concentrate on coming into your senior season to get higher and make that push for an all-conference staff?
Hannah Di Genova: Honestly, simply giving it every little thing I acquired. At the top of the 12 months, I do not need to have any regrets that, “Oh, I could have done this, could have done that.” Just keep assured myself, know that I’m succesful. Trust my course of, my skills. I’d say it is in all probability more of the psychological aspect that is going to be difficult me than the bodily a part of it as a result of I do know I’m able to it.
Nevada Sports Net: Let’s stroll by your season up to now. You guys are 8-7. Five of these losses to Top 25 colleges. But in each a type of video games, you guys are in it within the fifth, sixth, seventh inning. What’s the vibe with the staff up to now this season?
Hannah Di Genova: Obviously, it has been robust dropping these video games in opposition to these Top 25 groups. As these video games proceed, we have progressively gotten higher. I do know we’re able to beating any staff we’re put in opposition to. Just persevering with to be taught and develop from every sport. I feel you may see a distinction from the LSU sport the place, sure, we competed, however the LSU sport to the UCLA sport, it has gone even nearer in our progress. Just going into this weekend but in addition subsequent weekend in opposition to Oregon, simply actually taking these moments and eventually having the ability to do it.
Nevada Sports Net: What would it not imply to have that breakthrough and beat considered one of these Top 25 groups and find a way to say you guys have finished that as a bunch?
Hannah Di Genova: It would really feel wonderful. Just lastly having the ability to do it as a result of everyone knows we’re succesful, nevertheless it’s exhibiting everyone else, too.
Nevada Sports Net: What’s been the mantra from Coach Hayward as you guys undergo the season. What have you ever loved about enjoying for her?
Hannah Di Genova: Playing beneath Coach Vic has been superior. She continues to push us. I’m continually studying. Her information concerning the sport is actually like nobody I’ve ever recognized. Just her capability to use everyone on our staff. Every time you play, she’s, like, “OK, it’s gonna take all 21 of us. Every single person. You have a role to play in this game,” even although you won’t be within the beginning line 9, you may nonetheless get your likelihood and even not you already know you are going to be enjoying this position.
Nevada Sports Net: What’s it like within the preseason since you guys are all over? You have been in Baton Rouge and you then went to Arizona after which went to California, you will be up in Eugene. How do you steadiness competing but in addition getting your schoolwork finished?
Hannah Di Genova: Honestly, I’ve by no means taken a 10-day journey journey earlier than, in order that was a primary for me in my 4 years of faculty. We do have designated examine corridor hours. It will one hour, two hours, a weekend. But truthfully, it is more about self-management, simply staying up to the mark, continually checking Canvas, emailing professors, simply actually staying on the highest of it.
Nevada Sports Net: That’s acquired to be so many good reminiscences, although, simply having the ability to have these street journeys and play these video games and that sisterhood you guys are breeding. What is it like on the journey journeys and within the resorts?
Hannah Di Genova: Honestly, now we have a very close-knit staff. And personally from the previous years, sure, I bear in mind bits and elements of the sport. But I largely bear in mind us having enjoyable on the resort, hanging out one another’s resort rooms, staff dinners, staff lunches. All that little stuff, that is the half that makes it.”
Nevada Sports Net: Do you have a favorite memory so far the season?
Hannah Di Genova: From this season right now? I don’t really know if I do. The only thing I’m remember is we’ve been having so much trouble with the airplanes, so many delays. It’s just not fun dealing with all the flights.
Nevada Sports Net: Hopefully the travel trip is good this weekend. You guys are just going over the mountain.
Hannah Di Genova: Yeah, just a quick little bus ride.
Nevada Sports Net: I want to give you a couple of quick hitters before we let you go. Who’s your favorite athlete ever?
Hannah Di Genova: Kobe Bryant.
Nevada Sports Net: Why is that? Just growing up in Southern California.
Hannah Di Genova: Growing up in Southern California, being a Lakers fan, just also his hard work and determination, the person he was outside of basketball too.
Nevada Sports Net: Favorite stadium you’ve ever played in?
Hannah Di Genova: I want to say Stanford, but not the one right now. It was a makeshift field.
Nevada Sports Net: You guys played on their football field.
Hannah Di Genova: That was insane how they literally just removed part of the grass, put dirt and you look around and you’re on a football field.
Nevada Sports Net: So, I guess your nickname’s pork chop. Can you give us a story behind that?
Hannah Di Genova: There’s not really too much to it. It just kind of happened and someone called me and it just stuck.
Nevada Sports Net: Do you actually like eating pork chops or is that just a misnomer?
Hannah Di Genova: I’m not against pork chops. That’s not my go-to. I’d rather eat a steak.
Nevada Sports Net: You’ve got Italian and Venezuelan roots in your background, DiGenova being your last name. One travel trip that you would take. Where would you go?
Hannah Di Genova: Ooh, I really do want to go to Europe. I’ve never been. The only time I’ve been outside of the country was Mexico. I’d been to Cabo. I’ve the Cancun. But Europe or Costa Rica or somewhere tropical too.
Nevada Sports Net: I always ask to the people from Southern California: better beach, the Pacific Ocean Beach or Lake Tahoe?
Hannah Di Genova: I really do love a good beach day. I’ve only been to Tahoe a few times being here, which is kind of sad. I know I haven’t really taken advantage of it, but I do love my beach.
Nevada Sports Net: Your team’s home opener is going to be March 13th against Boise State. The lights will be in. Give the sales pitch on why fans should come out and support the team that day.
Hannah Di Genova: Everybody come out and support Nevada softball. It’s a really fun game to watch. We’re a great team. You’ve gotta go check out Hixson Park. We just got new lights, so you’re gotta check those out, too.
Nevada Sports Net: You went right to the camera. What’s your major? Are you doing journalism?
Hannah Di Genova: No, I’m actually a double-major in biology and criminal justice.
Nevada Sports Net: Much more difficult major than I took. What do you want to do with that?
Hannah Di Genova: I came in as just a bio major and then my sophomore year I added on criminal justice, so I was considering forensics. I still don’t know if that’s exactly what I want to do because I’m not sure if I want stay in a lab my entire life. I’m not the type of person who I think will do well in like an office job or anything. A lot of people are trying to convince me to go to the fire department. Yes, that seems interesting but at the same time. I’m going through all these hard classes.
Nevada Sports Net: You’ve got a lot of options, so crushing it in the classroom and crushing it on the field. Congrats on the strong start to the season and best of luck this year.
You can view our earlier Wolf Pack Athlete of the Month interviews right here.