By Jim Hague
At first glance, the name is certainly catchy and one that commands attention.
Nazly Hasanizadeh. The last name is pronounced HAAS-AN-EEZ-A-DAY. It’s certainly a mouthful.
“It’s not easy, that’s for sure,” she laughs.
The Rutgers-Newark junior also grabs the spotlight on the volleyball court for the Scarlet Raiders, with her never-ending leadership skills and her undivided dedication to the program, despite the numerous pitfalls that the R-N women’s volleyball program has had to endure after Hasanizadeh enrolled in the school from her hometown of Katy, Texas.
Say what? A girl with Persian parents from Texas actually came to Newark to attend college? Now that’s newsworthy.
“I actually got a call from an assistant coach here who had read my recruiting information sheet,”
Hasanizadeh said. “I sent in a tape and before I knew it, I ended up here.”
Hasanizadeh said that she actually preferred Rutgers-Newark and the largest metropolis in the Garden State over some of the Texas schools that were recruiting her, as well as Plattsburgh in New York.
“Rutgers-Newark was the only campus where I felt totally at home,” Hasanizadeh said. “For some reason, I knew I was going to fit right in. Sure, I knew there were going to be certain challenges. At first, it was a little different, but where I’m from (Katy) in Texas, it’s right near Houston (about 10 miles away) and Houston’s pretty big. It was definitely a go-with-the-flow decision on my part. I didn’t think much about it, but I knew I was excited about coming here.”
When Hasanizadeh first decided to come to Rutgers-Newark, she wanted to be a biology major, but she has since switched majors to become a psychology major, with the hopes of eventually becoming a college professor after graduate studies.
In the eyes of the women’s volleyball staff at R-N, she’s already teaching – serving as the inspirational leader for a very young team this season.
“At this point, she’s helping us a lot,” said Scarlet Raider Coordinator of Volleyball Karl France. “She’s like a coach on the floor. While she’s getting better as a player, she’s become the leader of a very young team that doesn’t have the experience that she has. She gives us leadership and steadies the entire team. She’s probably the calmest person I know and we kind of need that. She’s someone we can look to. When things start to go wrong, the rest of the team looks to Nazly and she’s the first one to get their heads into the match.”
France said that Hasanizadeh’s dedication to academics and athletics certainly serves as a role model to others, especially coming to Newark from her humble background in Texas.
“I think it gives you the proper perspective of what kind of lady Nazly is,” France said. “It’s obvious that both athletics and academics are important in her life. I think her dedication speaks for itself. She constantly shows the drive and the determination to play and she has displayed a lot of character and desire by sticking with the program through the tough times. She’s the type of young woman you want to have represent the university and the volleyball team.”
Last year, as a sophomore, Hasanizadeh led the team with 1,134 assists, as the starting setter for the Scarlet Raiders as the team finished an impressive 23-12. Hasanizadeh averaged nearly 10 assists per game. Her assist total puts her on pace to become one of the all-time setters in the school’s history. She also collected 230 digs, 117 kills and 61 service aces, showing her true versatility.
Last week, as the Scarlet Raiders began their new season at the Garnet Classic at Swarthmore College, Hasanizadeh was named to the all-tournament team, even though the Scarlet Raiders lost all four matches to Cabrini College and Salisbury College.
“There aren’t enough words to describe how well she’s done for us,” France said. “Her commitment is incredible. She goes far and beyond being a student/athlete. She’s not a student/athlete. She’s a student/ambassador.”
Hasanizadeh said that she started to play volleyball when she was in sixth grade in Texas and just stayed with the sport throughout.
“I just fell in love with the game,” Hasanizadeh said. “The competition aspect has always drawn me to it. Volleyball has also taught me a lot about life as well. It shows you how to deal with certain situations. It taught me to be a leader.”
It’s a role that Hasanizadeh has to fill this year with the Scarlet Raiders.
“This year, I pretty much got thrown into that role,” Hasanizadeh said. “We’re a young team and we’re definitely making improvements, making strides every day. Everyone is working so hard.”
How hard? Try 6 a.m. practice sessions.
“You can’t question our heart, getting up that early,” Hasanizadeh said. “Heart is a good thing to have. In the beginning, it was a little hard getting up at that time to practice before classes, but now, it’s become part of the routine. I think we’re all getting used to it. It’s not difficult anymore.”
Not if the inspirational leader is guiding the young team to practices and matches.
Even with the tough start and being so far away from her roots in the Deep South, the young lady with the long and memorable last name isn’t bemoaning anything.
“I wouldn’t trade any of my experiences here for anything,” Hasanizadeh said. “I don’t regret my decision coming here. It’s definitely been a challenge, but it’s enabled me to show who I am as a person and show what I’m capable as an athlete, in life. It’s been a great experience.”
