February 13, 2024

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Taylor Fenton. *** Taylor Fenton is an under-the-radar, 3-star middle blocker from the Class of 2026 who plays club for SA Force in Texas. She has a much different story and background than most. For starters, with her dad in the Air Force she has lived overseas for most of her life, including eight years in Italy. “Yes, I speak Italian,” she said. She also spent eight years in gymnastics before outgrowing the sport. That’s when she was first introduced to volleyball by a classmate. But playing for an hour a week meant it wasn’t anything serious. “I was learning a little bit of volleyball but it was just for fun,” Fenton said. “Once I moved over here, people said that to really get into volleyball I needed to join a club and that’s how I joined Force.” That was less than 18 months ago, as she started in November of 2022. Given that, she’s relatively new to the sport with a tremendous amount of room for growth. She’s already touching 9-11 and has a drive to see how far she can go. “When I first started I was very timid because I didn’t really know anything about the sport,” Fenton said. “All the other girls from what I saw where amazing at my age. I didn’t know how I could compare to them so it was overwhelming. “I definitely feel more settled in now and understand the sport a lot more. I’m more comfortable and always learning and getting more volleyball IQ. With the coach I have right now I feel it’ll help me a lot more in developing my skills.” Fenton is part of SA Force 16 Darkside this season. The group competed at the Tour of Texas over the weekend, where they came in 18th in the top 16s Invitational division. “It’s been good so far,” Fenton said. “I love my team. We all get along very well. The coaches are amazing. Coach Evan, Coach Jordan, I just love them. I learn so much from them. I love the environment. We are very close and very familiar. It’s comfortable.” In addition to volleyball, Fenton recently began competing in track and field. She runs the 200m as well as doing high jump. “I did it because a lot of my friends are doing it,” she said. “It’s something to do to meet more people and one of my volleyball friends said it was fun. I did high jump because I jump really high and maybe I’d be good at that.” It’s a busy schedule but managing her time is something Fenton is used to. She said the Italian curriculum made for a heavy workload for school. Plus, she had gymnastics six times a week for a few hours each time. “I just got used to fitting everything in,” she said. “Sometimes it can get a little overwhelming but I’m used to it and I can handle it well.” Overall, she’s motivated to keep improving and is focused on pushing herself to succeed in the sport of volleyball. “I’m excited to see how far I can get in the sport,” she said. “Volleyball is very new and fresh to me and I’m just so eager and at the same time impatient to get better and learn more. I want to do the things the coaches are coaching me to do faster. That’s my ultimate goal.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Fenton about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Fenton: For volleyball, I don’t have a specific person. Every time I go to a club tournament like this past weekend, I see an amazing team with incredible players and I enjoy watching them and seeing how good they are. I think what if I can do something to become that good. It’s amazing volleyball to watch. Outside of volleyball, it’s my parents. They are just hard working and great role models to have. One day I would be lucky to have half the work ethic as they do. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Fenton: I would travel somewhere. I love traveling. It’s my favorite thing ever. We did it a lot overseas because it was convenient because places were so close. It’s just so fun to see other cultures. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Fenton: I’d honestly love to learn how to cook. Not just necessarily to just learn, I would want to learn to want to and like to cook. I love food. I would love to be able to make what I want on the spot. Do you have any volleyball superstitions or rituals and if so what? Fenton: If I have a really good game and I did my hair a different way, then I may do that again. Usually before a play I rub the bottom of my shoes. I do it for the grip but also it just became a habit too. Aside from basic necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Fenton: I hate to say it but my phone. I would love to say I don’t need it but I do. I can’t imagine a day without it. What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile? Fenton: I just like seeing my friends. I know a lot of people say it but it’s true. I like seeing people that I know. It just brings my mood up. What’s one of your favorite ways to have