Straight Out The Portal: Dotson is Swinging!
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Name: Sanaa Dotson
Team & Position: LSU Volleyball, Outside Hitter
Class as of Spring 2022: Junior
Hometown: Houston, TX
Previous School: Oklahoma
Q: Describe your relationship with your three siblings.
A: I’m really close with all of my siblings. My brother played football at the University of Houston, and he’s 26. My older sister is turning 25, and she did track & field at Baylor. My younger sister is still in high school, and she plays soccer and does gymnastics. My parents raised us to be really close, but we still have the student-athlete mindset. We are very competitive with each other, but that also bonded us.
Q: What is it like having a former NFL player, Super Bowl Champion and Defensive Rookie of the Year as a father?
A: It’s cool because it’s nice to have someone in the family that has won and experienced one of the biggest achievements in the sports world. Having a dad who has done all of that, and being able to confide in him when I’m struggling has been so helpful. Hearing his first-hand experience from his career really helps me on the court, and gives me a different mindset. He’s not only my dad, but a really great mentor as well. I’m really grateful for the role he has played in my life, for sure.
Q: Can you describe your childhood athletic background?
A: The first sport I ever did was ballet. I did gymnastics when I was 6 or 7. I played soccer, basketball, then tennis was a really big one. I also played flag football because I wanted to be like my dad. I started playing volleyball when I was 9, and did that along with tennis. I started club volleyball when I was 10, and since that was more demanding, I stopped playing tennis.
Q: How did you decide to focus on volleyball?
A: My older sister played volleyball first, and being a little sister you want to copy and follow after your older sister. I started because of her, but I stayed with it because I really like the team aspect, and it was something I wanted to keep doing. I loved all the other sports I played, and have a lot of appreciation for them, but I was more passionate about volleyball than any of the other sports I played. I fell in love with it.
Q: What was your recruiting process out of high school like?
A: I got my first collegiate recruiting letter when I was going into my freshman year of high school. When you’re that young, you don’t know what to look for. I talked to a lot of coaches and took visits. My sophomore year, I committed to the University of Oklahoma. My top schools were Oklahoma, LSU and Oregon. I loved Oregon, but it was too far from home for me. I loved LSU, but my cousin played football at Oklahoma, so I had some family ties there. I ended up choosing to go there when I was 15 or 16.
Q: How did the recruiting process as a transfer differ from the recruiting process as a high school player?
A: The maturity aspect of it is different. When I entered the transfer portal, I knew more about myself as a player, student, person, all of that. I knew more of what I was looking for. I’m a journalism major, and LSU had a better program for that. I know what type of player I am now, and I knew what coaching style I was looking for. It was easier as a transfer because I knew my likes and dislikes, since I had already been in college sports.
Q: What is the most valuable thing you learned from your time at the University of Oklahoma?
A: Sometimes you have to put yourself first. I was willing to stay in a tough situation, and one that was bothering me longer than I should have. I’m a loyal person, and I wanted to be there for my teammates and my coaches. Sometimes you have to do what is best for you, even if it might be upsetting to other people.
Q: What drew you to LSU?
A: They were high on my list when I went through the initial recruiting process. Even though I didn’t choose them first, the coaches were still interested, and that meant a lot to me. The academics are great, and I’m much closer to home. The community is amazing, and being around other winning programs and winning teams is really inspiring to me. Talking to my teammates and coaches about where we can see the program go was a huge draw for me. Being a part of a school that has such a big championship mindset was really important for me as well.
Q: Are there any misconceptions about transferring schools that you wish did not exist?
A: I was on Twitter the other day, and a coach was talking about how the transfer portal makes it easy for athletes to quit, and they need to be more mentally tough to persevere through things. When you commit to schools young, you aren’t asking the right questions. Once you’re in college, you can see different needs that can be met at different schools. Academically, if your degree plan is not what you need it to be, it’s valuable to be able to go somewhere that is a better fit for you to get what you are mainly in college for. I feel like most people view transfers as the athlete giving up or that they don’t care, but that’s just not true.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you could give an athlete who is thinking of transferring, and struggling with the process?
A: It’s tough because I thought about transferring after my freshman year, but I stuck it out through my sophomore year to see if it would get better. I talked to my family and my old club coaches, and I had a few teammates at Oklahoma that had transferred in and gone through the process. They told me that if you are not happy playing a sport that you grew up loving, it could be a sign to go somewhere else. If you find yourself falling out of love with your sport, something that you are so passionate about, it’s important to recognize that.
Q: How would you describe the feeling you get when you record a kill?
A: It really is indescribable. It’s really exciting, and it’s one of those things where you wish you could pause time and re-live it forever. It’s like slow motion, especially in the PMAC where the crowd is so into it. Your teammates cheering, your coaches off the bench, the crowd, all of it is really exciting. The moment really encompasses all of your senses, and it’s really cool.
Q: What does the word “team” mean to you?
A: A support system no matter what. I have never been on a team similar to the bond that I have with my teammates at LSU. Having people support you on and off the court is invaluable. I know I could call any number of my teammates, and they would be there for me for whatever. I can genuinely depend on them for any issue that I could have.
Q: If you could go anywhere with anyone, where would you go and who would you bring with you?
A: I would go to Jamaica for vacation, and I would take my family, but also some of the girls on the team.
Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
A: From a training standpoint, when we have pre-game serve and pass, I need my last rep to be a good one. In the locker room, we listen to music as a team. I always have to chew gum, too. When we travel, I also like to watch an episode or two of “The Last Dance” to tap into that mindset.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a Tiger?
A: The community and the outpour of love you feel from people that live in Louisiana. I was in the grocery store and people always say, “Geaux Tigers!” I think it’s so cool. The love and support I get form my coaches and advisors is amazing, too. I feel like it translates off the court and into life as well.
