Taylor volleyball sits at a 6-11 overall record, 1-4 in conference, slotting in eighth place in the Crossroads League. Coming off a four-game losing streak, the team is looking to turn things around in the upcoming conference games.
Two of their next three matches will be at home in Odle Arena before a three-game road trip, giving the Trojans an advantage in their upcoming rivalry games.
Competing in the CL is no easy task. The top three teams, No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan (12-2, 5-0), No. 16 Mount Vernon Nazarene (16-1, 4-1) and No. 22 Marian (13-2, 4-1), have five losses combined, with Mount Vernon having only lost against IWU.
Taylor was able to steal one set from Mount Vernon during their game on Sep. 7 but ended up losing 3-1.
Head coach Erin Luthy described MVNU. “They’re very seasoned,” she said.
As always, the Crossroads League stands as one of the best conferences in the NAIA, currently boasting four teams in the Top 25, and seven with winning records.
While the Trojans may not have the win percentage they were hoping for at the beginning of the season, the team still has their eyes focused forward. Senior right-side hitter Jaylynn Dunsmore commented on what the Trojans have done well so far.
“This team is just really, really hungry to get better and to do better every single day in practice and push each other to be better,” Dunsmore said. “I think that our defense is super scrappy, and our libero (MaKaylah Flagle) leads the court really well.”
One of the seven seniors on this year’s squad, Dunsmore gets to be part of a special wave of leadership for the team that few rosters get to experience.
On the court, Dunsmore leads the team in kills with 160, and is second on the team in attacks per set with 7.89. She also ranks second on the team in blocks with 37, putting in work on the defensive end, as well as the offensive.
Senior middle hitter Grace Ieremia is one of the seniors leading the Trojans. Last season, she played in every game (34), finished fourth on the team in kills with 246 and top ten in the CL in total blocks with 112.
This year, Ieremia is continuing her dominance, sitting second on the team in kills with 139 and second in total blocks in the Crossroads League with 63.
From a spiritual standpoint, Ieremia talked about the team having a strong grounding that helps keep them all on the same page.
“As a team sport there is always importance with finding your connection amongst God, then trickling to our sisterhood of the team, witnessing how God’s evident hand placed each of these young women into one place to give thanks through performance of a sport we desire,” Ieremia said.
Coach Luthy also highlighted the team’s strengths and the Trojans’ competition.
She described her Trojans as coachable with a team energy and chemistry that is “so stinkin’ close to greatness.” She also commented on the tough conference competition, describing the CL as “one of the best (conferences) in the nation,” where each game is a “dog fight.”
The 2024 season is Luthy’s ninth year as head coach of the Trojans. She is joined by assistant coaches Joe Ross and Gabby Reed, both in their third seasons.
The chemistry, experience and heart of the Trojans look to carry them through the most difficult part of the season. With 12 games before the Crossroads League Tournament, Dunsmore, Ieremia and the rest of the Taylor roster have hopes to return not just to the CL tournament, but the NAIA National Tournament for the second time in three years.
