Clearwater, Fla. -- Every great team needs a great leader. For the Calvary Christian volleyball team, that role belongs to Taylor Parks.
“She’s the core of our team,” said Calvary Christian volleyball coach Kim Whitney. “She’s a leader on the court, she controls the tempo of our game. She’s able to encourage her teammates, she keeps them together.”
As a setter, Taylor’s job is to run the team’s offense. The rising junior is one of the best at setting up her teammates for success.
“I think one thing about being a great setter is learning how to play with the people next to you, learning how to make them better because setters don’t get all the glory. It’s not about getting the big kills or big ups so I think its learning how to help the people around you perform at their best and trying to get them the most openings so they can play their best.”
Taylor flashed greatness early in her high school career. She started on varsity as a freshman, and in her sophomore season, she was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 3A Player of the Year and she helped lead the warriors to a state championship.
“It was amazing,” said Parks. “It was something I’ll never forget my entire life. We had such an amazing team, such good chemistry, drive to work our hardest, play for the people next to us. Honestly it was more than a state championship, I’ll never forget getting to play with that group. It was so much fun, every time stepping on the court and playing for the people next to us and having an amazing coach and just getting to be part of such a great program is so exciting.”
Despite having two years of high school left, Taylor already knows where she’s heading to college. She’s earned scholarship offers from multiple Division 1 schools, but last month, she announced her commitment to her dream school; the University of Florida.
“It still doesn’t feel real because I’ve been dreaming about this day since I was 10 watching my cousin play there and everything. Didn’t know if I was actually going to make it or not. So I think it’s just so exciting to know all the hard work my coaches put into me paid off.”