Taylor Bielek '20 Recruiting Profile

Hi, I’m Taylor Bielek, and I am a 5’ 10” left-handed outside hitter and DS. I was born and raised in Simpsonville, SC, while both my parents are from Florida.  My passion for volleyball started as long ago as I can remember, and my earliest memories are of me peppering the volleyball in the backyard with my parents who actually met playing volleyball at a Florida YMCA.  It didn’t take long for me to catch “volleyball fever”, and I started playing in developmental leagues beginning in 1^st grade and pickup games with my parents.  From age 11 to the present, I’ve been playing on Open level club travel volleyball teams at Axis Elite and Upward Stars.  I’ve been described by coaches and players as having a high volleyball IQ, a brawler on the court, a competitor who doesn’t quit, someone who makes playing volleyball look easy, and a great teammate with a killer smile and dimples!    Besides enjoying the competitive aspect of the sport, the bonds and friendships that you form with your teammates and coaches is something that I appreciate the most.

I’m a junior at Hillcrest High School in Simpsonville, SC, and will graduate in 2020.  I’ve been a starter and 6-rotation player starting my freshman year.  While I’ve been selected to the All-Region team every year, I’m most proud of having the privilege for playing for the SC Hall of Fame coach Lynn Avant, who has won five state volleyball championships and has seen over 37 players go on to play in college.  Coach Avant was probably the toughest coach I’ve ever played for, but her tough love and knowledge of the game has instilled in me the confidence to also continue playing at the college level.  Academically, I’ve struggled with the transition to high school, but I’m determined to turn it around and have made progress raising my grades up.  Starting my junior year, I’ve decided to challenge myself by adding some honors classes, and I recently won the “Student of the Month” based on my academic improvement in math.  While my effort on the volleyball court can affect the outcome of the game, I recognize my effort in the classroom is what will truly impact my path in life.

I’m currently playing club travel volleyball at Upward Stars in Spartanburg, SC.  I’ve been asked to play on both 17’s Open travel teams (Upward 17-Katie, Upward 17-Brent), so I have been quite busy playing volleyball.  I’m playing both outside hitter and DS, but have played almost every position including setter during my 15’s season.  I have a great jump topspin serve, and was the only player to break the 50 mph barrier serving at the 2018 Louisville unsigned showcase.

While I’m planning on attending and playing volleyball in college, I’m still undecided on what I would like to major in.  My career interests include psychology, broadcast journalism, or something in the medical field.  I’m also flexible with the location and size (D1, D2, JC) of colleges, and simply want to find the best fit for my academic and volleyball interests.  While I’ve primarily played indoor volleyball, a college that also has a beach program would be a real plus.