University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Tori Harper
September 27, 2022 | Volleyball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Tall and talkative, Tori Harper exudes a warm and bubbly personality. The Georgia volleyball freshman, who stands 6-foot-2, has the makings of a team leader on and off the court.
An opposite hitter from Reno, Nev., Harper is now the third member of her family to play collegiate volleyball. Two of her older sisters played at Siena College in New York. And now Harper has been a regular in coach Tom Black's lineup since the start of the season. Harper and the Bulldogs host South Carolina at Stegeman Coliseum on Wednesday.
During a recent Quick Chat, Harper talked about her favorite class, being tall, her start in the sport, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: What has this first part of your first semester of college been like?
Harper: It's been crazy, I'm not going to lie. Coming into a new environment, from Nevada, it's a change coming from the West to the South. It's been really good — everyone's so nice. It's been amazing.
Frierson: How did you get started playing volleyball? Did you play a bunch of different sports when you were younger?
Harper: Actually, volleyball was the only sport that I played. I was going to do track but my coach was like, just stay with volleyball, so I did. I've been playing since I was 8 years old — a long time.
Frierson: I would imagine your high school's girls basketball coach probably was pretty persistent about asking you to come out for the team a time or two.
Harper: Yeah [laughs], very persistent. I did think about it, but then I saw girls the same height as me but stronger, and I was like, ooh, I don't know if I can do it.
Frierson: What was it about volleyball that grabbed you right away?
Harper: My older sisters actually played volleyball in college, so I saw them play (Division I) and I said, I want to do the same thing. They just inspired me.
Frierson: Did you all get pretty competitive?
Harper: I would say it got competitive but supportive at the same time. They were playing, but at the same time, I wanted to be them — but also better. I was a like, I want to do what you did but work even harder and be even better at the sport. In our family, we're all competitive, it's just in our blood. I have five siblings to we're all really competitive.
They helped me throughout my career. We're still competitive, but they definitely helped me get to where I am today.
Frierson: Is there class that has really gotten your attention this semester?
Harper: This is weird, but Human Geography. I know, it's weird.
Frierson: I have many followup questions.
Harper: For that class, it reminded me of the movies about college: the big lecture rooms, 300 students, and one teacher. At the same time, I've always been good at science — of all things, science. Which is weird; out of all things — not writing, not math, just science. I don't know, it clicks better. In my brain it makes more sense.
Frierson: Human Geography — it's about where people are in the world?
Harper: Yeah, it's about human connectivity. Advertising actually goes into it, and that's what I want to do. It shows how over time you can see the population of people and see what's more popular, so you can market things at that area. I think interesting.
Frierson: What is it about advertising that has your attention?
Harper: Well, I just like talking to people and communicating with people, trying new things. I actually want to go into fashion, in that industry, and so I want to see why people do what they do. What made them do what they wanted to do? I want to see what's behind the story of who they are, which is very interesting to me.
Frierson: Were you always the tallest person in your class?
Harper: Yeah, I normally was an inch or 2 inches taller, and I just gradually grew 2 inches throughout the years, and now I'm here.
Frierson: Did it take a while to both physically get comfortable with it and get comfortable with it socially?
Harper: I'd say it was difficult, because I'd grow 2 inches and get comfortable with it, and then I'd grow a couple more inches. But being taller than everyone, I will say, it was weird. ... It's always nice being taller, because in the halls I can see over everyone and I can get places faster.
Frierson: I just had the thought that you've probably never been in the front of any class picture.
Harper: Exactly. No, never. My whole life I've never done that. Someone's got to be in the back — it's always fun in the back.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Tall and talkative, Tori Harper exudes a warm and bubbly personality. The Georgia volleyball freshman, who stands 6-foot-2, has the makings of a team leader on and off the court.
An opposite hitter from Reno, Nev., Harper is now the third member of her family to play collegiate volleyball. Two of her older sisters played at Siena College in New York. And now Harper has been a regular in coach Tom Black's lineup since the start of the season. Harper and the Bulldogs host South Carolina at Stegeman Coliseum on Wednesday.
During a recent Quick Chat, Harper talked about her favorite class, being tall, her start in the sport, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: What has this first part of your first semester of college been like?
Harper: It's been crazy, I'm not going to lie. Coming into a new environment, from Nevada, it's a change coming from the West to the South. It's been really good — everyone's so nice. It's been amazing.
Frierson: How did you get started playing volleyball? Did you play a bunch of different sports when you were younger?
Harper: Actually, volleyball was the only sport that I played. I was going to do track but my coach was like, just stay with volleyball, so I did. I've been playing since I was 8 years old — a long time.
Frierson: I would imagine your high school's girls basketball coach probably was pretty persistent about asking you to come out for the team a time or two.
Harper: Yeah [laughs], very persistent. I did think about it, but then I saw girls the same height as me but stronger, and I was like, ooh, I don't know if I can do it.
Frierson: What was it about volleyball that grabbed you right away?
Harper: My older sisters actually played volleyball in college, so I saw them play (Division I) and I said, I want to do the same thing. They just inspired me.
Frierson: Did you all get pretty competitive?
Harper: I would say it got competitive but supportive at the same time. They were playing, but at the same time, I wanted to be them — but also better. I was a like, I want to do what you did but work even harder and be even better at the sport. In our family, we're all competitive, it's just in our blood. I have five siblings to we're all really competitive.
They helped me throughout my career. We're still competitive, but they definitely helped me get to where I am today.
Frierson: Is there class that has really gotten your attention this semester?
Harper: This is weird, but Human Geography. I know, it's weird.
Frierson: I have many followup questions.
Harper: For that class, it reminded me of the movies about college: the big lecture rooms, 300 students, and one teacher. At the same time, I've always been good at science — of all things, science. Which is weird; out of all things — not writing, not math, just science. I don't know, it clicks better. In my brain it makes more sense.
Frierson: Human Geography — it's about where people are in the world?
Harper: Yeah, it's about human connectivity. Advertising actually goes into it, and that's what I want to do. It shows how over time you can see the population of people and see what's more popular, so you can market things at that area. I think interesting.
Frierson: What is it about advertising that has your attention?
Harper: Well, I just like talking to people and communicating with people, trying new things. I actually want to go into fashion, in that industry, and so I want to see why people do what they do. What made them do what they wanted to do? I want to see what's behind the story of who they are, which is very interesting to me.
Frierson: Were you always the tallest person in your class?
Harper: Yeah, I normally was an inch or 2 inches taller, and I just gradually grew 2 inches throughout the years, and now I'm here.
Frierson: Did it take a while to both physically get comfortable with it and get comfortable with it socially?
Harper: I'd say it was difficult, because I'd grow 2 inches and get comfortable with it, and then I'd grow a couple more inches. But being taller than everyone, I will say, it was weird. ... It's always nice being taller, because in the halls I can see over everyone and I can get places faster.
Frierson: I just had the thought that you've probably never been in the front of any class picture.
Harper: Exactly. No, never. My whole life I've never done that. Someone's got to be in the back — it's always fun in the back.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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