Their résumés bear all the hallmarks of the classic overachiever. During their four years with the Gophers, Paige and Hannah Tapp have amassed a pile of volleyball honors, maintained high grade-point averages in the rigorous Carlson School of Management and made the shortlist for a national award recognizing scholarship and service.
The Stewartville, Minn., natives admit, though, that they didn't understand their true potential until arriving at the U. Coach Hugh McCutcheon saw it all along. Early in their careers, he pushed the Tapps and the rest of the Gophers' seniors to expand their idea of what is possible — and in raising the bar for themselves, they lifted the entire program.
The twin sisters will make their final appearance at the Sports Pavilion this weekend, as the top-ranked Gophers host an NCAA regional. They prepared for Friday's regional semifinal against No. 18 Missouri the same way they have approached every practice: by striving to be a little better at the end than they were at the beginning. Their goal is for the Gophers to do the same as they pursue a berth in next weekend's Final Four.
"Even though it's senior year, it's not an end point," said Paige, a third team All-America selection in 2014 and 2015. "We're not slowing down. We're continually working hard, continuing to improve every day.
"[McCutcheon's] goals and visions are so high. And being here and living it, it's exceeded every expectation. At first, you don't think you can work that hard; you think there's no way you can sustain that every day. And then, you learn your limits are not your limits, and you see how much farther you can go."
The Tapps are part of a six-member senior class, the Gophers' largest since 2004. Along with Sarah Wilhite of Eden Prairie and Michigan native Katie Schau, they have played for the Gophers their entire college careers. Erica Handley of Lakeville transferred to the U after one season at Syracuse, and Margaret Eggert of Woodbury came to the program after two seasons at Ole Miss.
McCutcheon credited the group with setting a standard of unyielding effort and constant progress, instituting the culture he envisioned when he came to the U in 2012. Hannah and Paige Tapp have been right in the middle of it, literally and figuratively.
Hannah, a middle blocker who also plays the right side, was named All-Big Ten for the second season in a row and is third on the team with 303 kills. Paige, also a middle blocker, was named a first-team academic All-America on Thursday and has 231 kills. The twins are among the Gophers' best defensive players, with 240 total blocks between them.
