Junior Ellie Frey is one of the newest additions to the Taylor volleyball team.
The outside hitter brings two years of experience from Grand Canyon University with her. In her sophomore season as a Lope, she delivered 107 kills over 54 sets, earning one GCU Invitational All-Tournament Team award.
She sits at 330 kills as a Trojan, ranking number one in the Crossroads League.
Her transfer decision carried the weight of transitioning as a student, as well as an athlete.
“The thing that sparked it was my major,” Frey said. “I can do nursing and volleyball here, whereas I couldn’t at GCU.”
Frey’s volleyball experience as a Division I athlete made it difficult to obtain a position in the nursing program. GCU does not offer direct admittance into their nursing program. Taylor offers a number of direct admittance to students who have maintained a certain GPA over the course of high school and college.
The sport often felt like a full-time job, emphasizing ability over personhood.
Frey was initially recruited in high school before making the decision to transfer in the spring of 2025. She first met the team for a sleepover at head coach Erin Luthy’s house before bonding on a trip to the Atlanta Passion Conference in January.
“That trip was so reassuring of, like, I’m supposed to be here,” Frey said. “I was immediately with the team because we were traveling together, dinners together, wake up and wait in line together.”
Frey noticed God in everything on the trip. The conference’s theme was “For His Renown.” After thought and prayer, “For His Glory” became the team motto for the 2025 season.
Taylor head coach Erin Luthy noticed Frey following the theme in her role as a player.
“She came here because she was called here for his glory,” Luthy said. “She shows up and works hard to practice each and every day for his glory with the gifts she’s been given. You can see that, with the peace and poise that she plays with.”
Luthy described Frey as a player who is grounded and steady, on and off the court. She is fun and intentional with her teammates but locked in and competitive during a game.
The volleyball players are more than teammates to Frey. They are her friends. She characterized them as Christ-like and sees her relationships at Taylor as a blessing.
Being at Taylor has also impacted how often she gets to see her biggest fans. The Frey family is located less than an hour from Taylor in Fort Wayne, Ind., much closer than the 1,800 mile gap to Arizona.
“It was really hard, at first, not seeing them in the stands at games (while at Grand Canyon),” Frey said. “Now I see them all the time. It’s just so sweet. I get to hug them after a game.”
The only member of her immediate family not in Indiana is her older sister Anna. Anna lives in France and is pregnant. Taylor’s schedule allows Frey the opportunity to visit her sister and baby over J-term.
Anna also played for the Trojans as an outside hitter in the 2022 season, finishing second on the team in kills with 344.
Frey has another long-distance relationship with her fiancé, Camden Herschberger. He is working towards his degree in business management at GCU and is set to graduate in the spring of 2026.
“We just have this one year of long distance,” Frey said. “Then we’ll be married and it’ll all be okay.”
She is looking forward to the school year ahead as she explores the nursing program and is grateful for the professors and fellow nursing students who have guided her so far.
Frey also has her eyes set on athletic goals.
“We have such a good chance of making it to Nationals,” Frey said. “With all the new girls coming in this year, I think it brings so many different elements and skills to our team."
Taylor has made Frey feel comfortable and confident, surpassing her expectations as a transfer.
