Taylor Volleyball Aims for Valiant 2018 Season
UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor volleyball begins its season on Friday in Sylvania, Ohio for the Gray Wolf Invitational.
The TU squad will be looking to continue to improve with its 2018 campaign. Last season, head coach, Erin Luthy, led the Trojans to their first 20-win season in the last three years with a 20-16 record. As Luthy heads into her third season at the helm, she will be looking to make another step forward in the win column and in the Crossroads League standing.
“The foundation that we are trying to build is a culture of intensity, excellence and hard work,” said coach Luthy. “We want a battle-ready mindset.”
The Trojans are poised and ready to attack the season with a valiant mentality. Mental toughness will define their success as they develop courage, tenacity, and bravery for the season ahead.
Senior speaking captain Haley Harrell is coming off another stellar season landing her on the All-Crossroads League Second-Team. As the starting setter for a third-consecutive year, Harrell will strive to collect another 900-assist campaign.
Carrying the attack for the Trojans will be senior captain Addy Bailey. A force up front, Bailey who is traditionally a middle hitter will move to the outside to build off her 286 kills last season. Amanda Adams will also look to make her presence felt on the outside, taking the next step after her fantastic freshman year.
Samantha Korn collected 590 digs in 2017 and is coming back as the team’s libero and looking to have another dominant season covering the back row. Korn and senior Jamie Scherb will both have major roles patrolling the back row.
The incoming class consists of a solid group of five student-athletes including Nikki Parrett (Warsaw, IN / Warsaw), Jessica Dodane (Hoagland, IN / Heritage), Nicki Sechrist (Bourbon, IN / Triton), Ryan Czerniak (Pittsboro, IN / Covenant Christian), and transfer redshirt junior Jasmyn Keohohina-Malina (Waimanalo, HI / Kailua).
The Trojans begin their season with a three-match tournament at Lourdes University (August 24th-25th), which is followed by their first home match on August 29th against Grace College. TU then heads to Columbia, Missouri for a tournament with four matches in two days.
Taylor will tackle nine opponents receiving votes in the 2018 NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, including bouts against No. 3 Missouri Baptist University (September 1st), No. 4 Viterbo University (September 1st), No. 14 Columbia College (August 31st), and No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan University.