Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

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October 4, 2022
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Allison, Roberson’s athletic families

Some might say sophomore setter Hannah Allison and senior outside hitter Amber Roberson have a genetic advantage on the court.

Both girls were born into athletic families.

Allison’s mom Kelly played basketball at Baylor and her sister, Sarah, is a senior middle blocker at Oklahoma Baptist University. And her dad played high school basketball, baseball and football.


Allison followed in her mother’s footsteps and played basketball all throughout high school until her senior year, when she graduated early and came to Texas in the spring. But her mom was not upset when she chose volleyball. Although she grew up playing basketball and still loves it, volleyball won her over.

“I loved both sports but I think I was just better at volleyball than I was basketball,” Allison said. “I knew volleyball would take me farther than basketball and the more I played it, the more I fell in love with it.”

She said growing up in such a competitive household shaped her personality and gave her a competitive spirit.

“My sister and I weren’t ever allowed to keep score in any games we played so that we didn’t fight,” Allison said. “It was definitely competitive all the time.”

Everything was a competition between the two siblings. Allison and her sister would race down the stairs or attempt to walk to the store faster than the other. In high school, the sisters played on the same team during Sarah’s senior year and Hannah’s freshman year.

“Luckily we’ve been on the same team, because it would be a lot more competitive, obviously, if we had been on separate teams,” Allison said.

She believes that the competition between the two of them helped make them both better volleyball players.

“I think competition transfers to your work ethic and how good you want to be and how high you set your goals,” Allison said. “Watching my sister grow up and be in front of me and how hard she worked, I learned from her work ethic. My mom is the hardest working person I know and even though I didn’t watch her play sports, it’s just the way that she is. It’s the way both of my parents are.”

Roberson, who has four sisters and two brothers, also has a very athletic family.

Her father played basketball at New Mexico State and professionally overseas. Her mom played volleyball at New Mexico State. Her sister Ashlee played for the Texas Tech women’s basketball team and her brother plays basketball at Colorado.

Although Roberson played basketball in high school and earned all-district, all-city, all-region and all-state honors her senior season at Wagner High in San Antonio, she decided to go with her mom’s roots and play volleyball in college.

“Volleyball fit my personality a lot better,” Roberson said. “I feel like volleyball is more me, especially with all the cheering and how exciting it is.”

She said that when she was younger, her and her older sister were passed around in the stands while her mom played volleyball.

“I guess we had a feel for it naturally,” Roberson said.

Her father was also very happy when she decided to come to Texas and play volleyball.

“My dad supports my decision no matter what I go with,” Roberson said. “He would have loved it if I played basketball as well, but volleyball was a good choice.”

Like Allison, Roberson and her siblings have some healthy competition in their house.

“We aren’t as competitive as we were when we were little, but we definitely are competitive,” Roberson said.

Allison, Roberson and the Longhorns are hoping to improve their 2-1 Big 12 conference record tonight as they face Texas A&M at Gregory Gym. 

Printed on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 as: ''Skills are in the genes for Allison, Roberson''

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Allison, Roberson’s athletic families