Dylan Taylor '26 Recruiting Profile

I live in Redding, CA, and I started playing volleyball at 3 years old because of my dad being a coach. From a young age, I loved volleyball and decided I wanted to play at the collegiate level. 

Being raised by a coach, I’ve learned to look at the game in many different ways. I'm a defensive-minded setter, have a high volleyball IQ, and my setting is consistent with good technique. I'm a leader on the court, and I have a hard work ethic in every practice, because I know that I can always get better.  

My town is located in far Northern California. There's no boy's volleybal in our area.  The high schools don't support it, so there's no high school team for me to play on.  

The closest club is located in Rocklin, CA, which is near Sacramento.  I joined NCVC at age 14 playing on the 15-1 team. I'm half way through my fourth season, currently as a setter on the NCVC 17-1 team. I drive to Sacramento 1–2 times a week. The drives consist of 3 hours each way.  The  practices run late, resorting to us getting home at midnight.  Each round trip is 8+ hours.  Then I wake up at 6 am for school the next day. I’m very grateful that my parents are willing to drive me and help me pursue my dreams. I couldn’t do it without them. 

During the high school season, when my teammates play for their schools, I cross train with other sports, mainly playing soccer and track. I also practice volleyball with local men’s college players, and play in a local adult league.  

 Between travel to club practice and other sports, I have to work hard at my grades. I’m enrolled in multiple honors and AP classes, and finished my freshman and sophomore year on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll with a 4.35 GPA. I’ve also volunteered at youth volleyball camps at my church and my high school. Through that, I want to spread awareness that volleyball is a guy’s sport too, since it’s lacking in Redding. 

My goals are to go to a college that pushes me to be the best person I can be, as well as academically.  I want to be pushed as an athlete and as a person to do things I didn’t know were possible. I hope to become a role model for kids who are in a similar situation as me in sports…kids who think it’s impossible to get recruited from a small town when the odds are stacked against them.