Taylor volleyball has been on a hot streak to start the new season, ranked No. 22 in the NAIA’s second Top 25 poll.
The Trojans sit at 12-4 overall, winning all four of their first home games and giving strong showings at both the Keiser Tournament in West Palm Beach, Fla., and the AMF Memorial Tournament in Upland.
Taylor has already gone up against tough teams, such as the Montana Western Bulldogs, who were ranked No. 11 in the NAIA and the Missouri Baptist Spartans, who were ranked No. 19. MWU has moved out of the top-25 and MBU moved to No. 11
Taylor won both of these ranked games and went 4-0 in the AMF Tournament on their home floor.
Junior Division I transfer from Grand Canyon University, Ellie Frey, has been named Crossroads League Attacker of the Week three times and leads the team in kills with 247. Senior libero McKaylah Flagle is also starting out strong with 242 digs in just 15 games.
Last season, the Trojans placed eighth in the CL (11-20 overall), barely reaching the Crossroads League Tournament, and falling to the eventual 2024 National Champions, the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (37-2 overall).
No. 7 IWU won the CL double last year and in 2023. They also went back-to-back in 2019 and 2020. Sophomore Marin Sanchez leads the Wildcats in kills with 103 and senior Abbigail Porter leads in assists with 413.
The Huntington Foresters are also off to a hot start with an 11-2 overall record after starting the year unbeaten through eight games. Graduate Haley Kruse leads HU in kills with 138 and the team started off the year 8-0.
Sophomore transfer Mackenzie Gerig said Taylor’s physicality is a strength for them against the Foresters. She also said they need to focus on their speed.
“If we focus on our speed and each person just fulfilling their own role, we’ll find a lot of success,” Gerig said.
The recently ranked No. 23 Spring Arbor Cougars will also be a difficult matchup for the Trojans. They are currently 14-1 and 2-1 in conference play. Senior outside hitter Kendall Bollenbacher leads SAU in kills with 149.
“We continue to learn more and more about ourselves each day and are working on celebrating the small victories and working hard to improve one percent each day,” Cougars head coach Betsy Martinez said.
The Cougars have definitely improved on last season, already surpassing last season’s 12-16 record.
While these teams have proved to be some of the best in the conference, Frey highlighted the Trojans’ chemistry as their biggest strength.
“We know how to hold each other up and encourage each other, and I think that helps each person on the court to just be confident in their skill because we trust that everyone will do their role well,” Frey said.
She also highlighted the Trojans’ 6-2 lineup, which involves six hitters and two setters having three options in front and back row at all times.
Focusing on their competition, head coach Erin Luthy said the Crossroads League is one of the top two conferences in the nation, statistically speaking. This makes every conference game a battle.
“So within that, we have to understand that every match will be a dogfight,” Luthy said.
While their competition is daunting, Luthy also highlighted the team’s immense access to film and their dynamic coaching that will help them in creating their game plans for each tough team.
The Trojans are currently 2-1 in conference games and 5-0 at home. They are set to play Huntington and No. 16 Marian at home on Sep. 13 and 20.
