« DI Volleyball 2012

Taylor Root

School
Valparaiso
Position
Libero
Major
Elementary Education

Classroom

Root maintains a 3.588 cumulative grade point average as an elementary education major.  A two-time member of the Horizon League’s Academic All-League squad, Root has been a member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll each semester eligible and has also received Valpo Presidential academic honors.

Character

Root is a great teammate who serves as the leader of the defense on the court as the Crusaders’ libero.  Off the court, she is a upstanding Christian citizen who represents Valparaiso as well as any student-athlete.

Community

Root has served as a counselor at Valparaiso’s summer volleyball camp each of the last three years.  She also has taken time to play volleyball with youths and teach them skills in various venues, including the Boys and Girls Club, Hilltop House, St. Paul School and Valparaiso Nazarene Church.  She also has volunteered at local elementary schools, teaching mathematics to kindergartners.

Competition

Root is a two-time AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and has twice received All-Midwest Region honors.  She has twice been named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and has been an All-League honoree in each of her three seasons.  Root has already broken the Horizon League career digs record, as well as the league record for career Athlete of the Week honors.  As a sophomore, Root led the nation in digs, setting new league and school records, and as a junior, she finished 16th nationally in the category.  The Crusaders’ anchor defensively, she has helped Valpo to at least 20 wins in each of her three seasons.