2010: Played in 127 sets during her sophomore year, starting at libero in all 34 matches she appeared in ... honored as an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American after being named to the AVCA All-Midwest Region team ... ended season as NCAA national leader in digs/set (5.94) ... totaled 754 digs on the year, setting new single-season Valparaiso and Horizon League records ... member of the CVU.com Stellar Spikers First Team, one of just 14 players nationwide so honored ... also named one of CVU.com’s Top Five Liberos nationwide, anchoring the Crusader backline which was named the Deep Digging Team of the Year ... earned Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year accolades, as well as a spot on the All-League squad for the second straight year ... led Crusaders to #4 ranking nationally as a team in digs/set ... already ranks seventh in Crusader history in career digs through just two seasons ... a three-time Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week (Aug. 30, Sept. 6, Oct. 25) ... also named a CVU.com weekly Top Performer on three occasions (Sept. 14, Oct. 26, Dec. 1) ... one of just eight players to receive three or more weekly nods from CVU.com in 2010 ... named Tournament MVP at the Bradley CEFCU Classic ... also earned All-Tournament accolades at the Appalachian Invitational and the Horizon League Championship ... led Valpo in digs in all 34 of her matches and led all players on 22 occasions ... reached double digits in digs in all 34 outings, including 20+ 25 times and 30+ twice ... posted 20+ digs in five straight matches on two separate occasions ... did not commit a serve reception error in 19 matches, including two separate streaks of at least four straight contests ... also led Crusader regulars by committing just 12 service errors over the course of the season ... started season by tallying at least 20 digs in seven of the year’s first eight contests ... posted a new career high with 35 digs in a four-set win at Appalachian State Sept. 4 ... the 35 digs marked the third-most in a four-set match in Crusader history ... set career high with four service aces Sept. 11 vs. Hofstra ... recorded 34 digs in league action at Milwaukee Oct. 1 ... 34 digs matches the fourth-most in a five-set match all-time at Valpo ... recorded a career-best eight assists Oct. 2 at Green Bay ... closed the year recording at least 20 digs in 11 of the season’s final 13 matches ... had a trio of 28-dig efforts during that stretch (Oct. 29, Green Bay; Nov. 13, at Loyola; Nov. 27, at Western Michigan) ... named to the Horizon League All-Academic Team ... earned a spot on the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll for both the fall and spring semesters.

2009: Competed in 116 sets as a freshman, starting at libero in all 33 matches for the Crusaders ... named the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year ... also a member of the Horizon League All-League and All-Newcomer Teams ... named a CVU.com ‘Rising Star’, one of just 19 freshmen nationwide to earn the accolade ... two-time Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 12, Oct. 26) ... set a Valpo freshman record with 586 digs on the season, fifth-most overall in a single year in Crusader history ... paced the league with 5.05 digs/set, good for 29th nationally ... reached double figures in digs in 31 of Valpo’s 33 matches, including first 18 matches of the season, and had 12 outings with 20 or more digs ... was perfect on serve receive in 15 matches, including six of the year’s final seven contests ... kicked off career with All-Tournament Team honors in each of first two weekends (Campus USA Credit Union Invite, Drake Invitational) ... totaled 28 digs to go along with seven assists in win over South Dakota Sept. 5 ... set new Crusader three-set match record with 31 digs in a sweep of Green Bay Oct. 6 ... 31 digs also marked her season-best effort in the category ... reached 28 digs again at Loyola Oct. 10 ... set career high with eight assists Oct. 16 against Youngstown State to go with 25 digs ... posted season-best three service aces Nov. 6 against UIC ... closed rookie season with three straight 20+ dig efforts, including 28 Nov. 14 at Green Bay ... named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team after tallying 22 digs vs. Milwaukee in the tournament semifinal.

Prep: A four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats … named a PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American after her senior year, one of just three liberos nationwide so honored … led Jenison to back-to-back state championships in her final two seasons … one of 10 finalists for Michigan’s Miss Volleyball award following her senior season … earned All-State accolades each of her final two seasons … two-time All-Region and four-time All-Area and All-Conference honoree … Wildcats went 131-12 over her final two years … played for the FaR Out VBC for five years … received All-Tournament recognition at the 2007 Junior Olympic Championships after helping lead FaR Out to the 16 Open national championship … also earned Most Outstanding Passer honors at the PrepVolleyball.com Classic … also earned three letters in basketball at Jenison … earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors on the hardwood … a member of the Academic All-State team.

Personal: Taylor is the daughter of Tim and Ruth Root … major is elementary education … has earned Presidential academic honors and been named to the Dean’s List during her time at Valpo ... born Dec. 1, 1990.