With the 2017 season quickly approaching, Marley Taylor is the first of the Wyoming volleyball senior spotlight series for GoWyo.com. Taylor, who transferred from Eastern Washington before the 2014 season and is a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, discusses her time here at Wyoming leading up to her final season and how it has helped her prepare for life after college.
How much has changed since you arrived on campus?
The athletic facilities just keep getting better. It’s hard to tell how big of an impact it will make, but you can see it's going to be very beneficial. Also, the available food in the Rochelle Athletics Center (RAC) has gotten 100 times better. Don’t get me wrong, it was good before but now we have more options. Additionally, all of campus is changing so much. There's a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) building that is super nice. It's modern and the colors in it are super cool.
One thing senior self could tell you as a freshman?
I would tell my freshman self that it goes by fast, so enjoy it while it lasts. If you think high school went by fast, college is faster and I've been in college for five years! It honestly makes me a little nervous for the rest of my life because I think it all will just fly by.
Best piece of advice from coaching staff?
Probably Coach Callihan constantly saying, "volleyball is your chance to get away from everything else and just have fun." It's funny how we can stress so much about being perfect in our sport, when the main goal is to have fun and do your best. We all started playing because we thought volleyball was fun. I think we should try to end our volleyball careers with that same mentality.
What is one of your favorite memories so far while playing at UW?
Although I have so many, I love pregame because we always eat good food and have crazy dance parties in the locker room. There was one time in a match when I hit the ball as hard as I could. I wanted to go out and just pound it, but I got blocked. The ball came back and hit me in the face, which was super embarrassing. But at least it made everyone laugh.
As a transfer student-athlete, what about Wyoming helped complete your decision to come here and how well do you think your experience will help you for life beyond college?
I won’t lie, the minute I saw all the food in the weight room I was sold. I mean all that food for free – that's any athletes dream. Also, the team was a big part of why I came here. They were all so welcoming and nice to me. I felt like I had been playing there for four years and it was only my first week. Everyone was so quick to help me with anything I needed. Since I began my career at Wyoming, I have constantly played with a great group of women! College can be tough for a number of reasons. When you add playing a sport on top of everything else, it can get even more difficult. I do think my experience has prepared me exceptionally well for life after college.
What opportunities have you received/experienced while playing for or attending UW?
As a team we do a lot of community service. Being able to give back to the community is always a great feeling. We have done many camps and clinics along with volunteering in schools throughout Laramie. While attending UW I’ve also had the opportunity to study abroad in Cuba, which was an unreal experience. I learned a lot of Spanish while getting fully immersed into the Cuban culture. I definitely want to go back!
It is already your senior year! Has it sunk in?
I felt it first last year at senior night. While standing there giving the seniors their flowers, I thought to myself, "this will be me next year." Other than that, it hasn't really started to sink in a whole lot. I'm sure once practices start it'll be an entirely different ballgame.
The Cowgirls begin fall practice this coming week and will open the 2017 schedule with an exhibition match at Northern Colorado on Aug. 18. They return home for the Brown and Gold Scrimmage on Aug. 19 before hosting Abilene Christian, South Dakota and Portland for the Rumble in the Rockies tournament on Aug. 25-26.
