ALBANY, N.Y. — Hannah Rowe was determined to be fearless.

As a freshman coming into a Division I volleyball program during a pandemic, Rowe was unsure of a lot of things.

Her talent wasn't one of them.

“You basically have to throw yourself in there and not be afraid to make mistakes,” said the Knoch graduate and 6-foot-1 outside hitter on the University of Albany women's volleyball team. “If you're timid, it's not going to benefit you in the future. You can't be afraid to make errors.”Rowe tried to set herself apart during the fall semester.There was no season then — COVID-19 saw to that — but the team still practiced three hours a day with hopes for a shortened winter/spring season.Rowe took full advantage of those practices.“I'd like to say I played pretty well last semester,” Rowe said. “I tried to show they could trust me to be a reliable player. I definitely worked for my playing time.”When the season finally began in the winter, Rowe made an immediate impact.She had nine kills and 16 digs in her first collegiate match against Sacred Heart.Rowe also had 10 kills against NJIT and capped her season with 11 kills and 12 digs against UMBC in the American East Tournament April 2.“I was pretty happy with it,” Rowe said of her first campaign. “Obviously I still have a lot of work to do and I'm pretty young compared to everyone here. Everyone else has a couple of years under their belt, but everyone welcomed me with open arms. That helped boost my confidence.”Albany coach Josh Pickard said he wasn't surprised how quickly Rowe got up to speed at the collegiate level.“We're extremely excited about Hannah,” Pickard said. “She's competitive and always had fun. She always has a smile on her face. She played very well for us.”Rowe is eager to see how much better she can get.At Knoch, Rowe was a four-year starter and instant star for the Knights.She finished her high school career with 673 kills, 212 blocks and 522 digs.In 2017, Rowe helped Knoch go 32-0 and win the PIAA Class 3A championship.In 2018, she shared the Butler Eagle Girls Volleyball Player of the Year award with teammate Kennedy Christy.In 2019, she was battled injuries, but was named to the all-state team for the third consecutive year.But Division I volleyball is a different animal and even more challenging when dealing with a global pandemic.“I definitely knew that it was going to be something different going into it,” Rowe said. “We really didn't have a typical freshman year, but you just have to make the best of what you are given.”Rowe said she and her teammates still found a way to bond even though they were unable to socialize outside of volleyball.“When we weren't playing volleyball, we were in our room,” Rowe said. “We wanted to make sure everyone on the team was safe and we wouldn't get shut down, that we would have a season in the spring.“We found way to bond with each other.”Rowe battled a back injury and shin splints this year. She also packed on some muscle to her tall frame and it translated to her play on the court.“I thought in high school I was strong, but I was weak compared to where I am now,” Rowe said. “I definitely got some more muscle going on.”She's needed it to withstand the college grind — both physically and mentally.If one thing this weird season has taught her is that nothing is guaranteed.“I do not take anything for granted,” Rowe said. “I was a grateful person in general, but now I cherish everything, every moment.”

Rowe