Taylor Morey

Classroom

A transfer from Notre Dame, Taylor Morey is a life sciences communication major at Wisconsin. Morey is very involved on the Wisconsin campus, where she is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and volunteered nearly 40 hours as a junior. As a team captain, Morey is a true leader on and off the court, ruling the back row of the volleyball court as the team’s libero. Morey aspires to become an FBI agent and if she applies the same energy and leadership that she displays on the court, she’ll always catch the bad guy!

Character

After playing her freshman year at Notre Dame, Morey had to learn a new role as a Badger. The Muncie, Ind., native had been the starting libero for the Fighting Irish and started her sophomore season at libero for Wisconsin. However, an injury to another player forced Morey to fall back to a reserve role as a defensive specialist. This adjustment didn’t stop the feisty player as she found ways to contribute the NCAA runner-up team. Morey found her voice as the Badgers’ starting libero as a junior aiding the team to a spot in the NCAA Regional finals. She “owned” the back court for Wisconsin, taking a leadership role among defenders and showing “a little bit of crazy,” according to coach Kelly Sheffield.

Morey continued to improve during the summer of 2015, earning a spot on a USA Volleyball Collegiate National team that toured China. She also took charge of the Badger passing workouts this summer, teaching them how to become better defensive players and scheduling practices four days a week. As one of three team captains this season, she was organized and held the new players accountable with a calendar that athletes could sign their names to, only if they had completed a certain number of passes.

Community

As a junior, Morey volunteered 29 hours at 10 different events. She participated in the Flat Bucky Mentorship program, which pairs a UW student-athlete with a third grade classroom to engage with students via Instagram in an effort to encourage academic achievement and provide insight into the Wisconsin experience. Morey would carry her Flat Bucky with her to class or on road trips and post photos to Instagram. Her class would follow Bucky’s travels and at the end of the project, she did a Skype interview with the class.

Morey also participated in Bookin’ it with Bucky, where student-athletes read to a grade school class, and the Friends of the Zoo fundraiser. She assisted with the Maddie’s Miracle Family Fun Day, which raises funds for American Family Children’s Hospital. At the hospital, Morey participated in Caleb’s Pitch where sick children shoot paint at student-athletes holding canvasses. She also participates in Ignite Leadership, which encourages millennials to build a better world. Morey is also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, working to improve the communication between the student-athletes and UW administration.

Competition

A 2014 second-team AVCA All-American, Morey was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Big Ten selection. As a junior, she led the Big Ten and ranked 29th in the nation with 5.12 digs per set. She had 20-plus digs in 14 matches and double-figure digs in 32 matches, aiding the Badgers to a spot in the NCAA Regional final, where UW lost to eventual national champion Penn State. The Badgers also won the Big Ten championship in 2014. As a sophomore, Morey played a defensive specialist role for Wisconsin, which advanced to the 2013 NCAA championship match. Morey was a member of a USA Volleyball Collegiate National team that toured China for two weeks during the summer of 2015 and would like to continue her playing career after college.