Stanford University freshman Taylor Beaven graduated from Seckman last spring and plays defensive specialist on the Cardinal women’s volleyball team, an elite NCAA Division I program. Last weekend, Stanford went 1-1 in the state of Washington, winning three straight sets to edge nationally-ranked Washington State in Pullman 3-2 and losing 3-0 at the University of Washington in Seattle.
The Cardinal stay on the road this week with matches at the University of Arizona in Tucson and at Tempe against Arizona State on Halloween. The Cardinal are 12-6 overall and 7-3 in the PAC 12 Conference. Stanford has won nine national championships, the last in 2019.
I caught up with Beaven last weekend and asked her about adjusting to life in California and what it has been like to play for the Cardinal.
Leader: You’ve played in every match this season. How did your experience at Seckman and in club volleyball prepare you to compete right away as a freshman at the NCAA Division I level?
Beaven: Playing the highest level the past few years, during club volleyball, and then competing with my new teammates against NCAA opponents has given me an insight to what the next level looks like, although collegiate volleyball is a whole other ballgame.
High school volleyball taught me how to be a leader and teammate. Because I was an outside hitter, I was able to understand the game from a different perspective, which has helped me become a better defender and tremendously improved my volleyball IQ.
Leader: Describe the differences between top-level prep volleyball and major college volleyball.
Beaven: The (gap in) level of play from prep volleyball to major college volleyball is much larger than I imagined. I remember watching college volleyball games on TV and thinking it would be similar to club and high school, but I didn’t realize the pace, speed, and power of the game until I got to college. It is very different.
Leader: You were a top outside hitter at Seckman, but are playing defensive specialist for Stanford. What are your challenges in learning a new position? Is there a chance you’ll move to the front as your career progresses?
Beaven: I have always known that I wanted to play volleyball at the highest level possible. I received many college offers to play front row, but not from Stanford. It was an easy decision to switch to the back row, mainly because I knew I would not be able to compete at the highest level in college as a hitter. All of my front row teammates are 6-2-plus and the tallest is 6-6. I switched from playing outside to libero (for club) but continued playing front row for my high school.
Another reason it was an easy decision to move from the front to the back row was because I fractured my L4 vertebrae three times from hyper-extending it (as a hitter). The doctors said I would no longer be able to play volleyball, but that was not an option for me. I moved to the back row to eliminate hyperextending from hitting.
Leader: Stanford has won six of its last eight matches. What has been the key to that success?
Beaven: I think the key has definitely been believing in each other. This team is very young, so it’s crucial we believe in ourselves and each other and trust what we have learned. After being down two sets against Washington State, we realized we just needed to calm down and trust that the hours of practice we put in daily prepared us for this exact situation. Once we started playing calm, we were able to win three sets.
Leader: What’s it like to travel as a D-1 athlete and what’s been your favorite so far of the places you’ve visited with the team and why?
Beaven: During preseason we were able to sightsee a lot more than we have been able to during the season. Preseason, we would stay in a city for about a week and see and do a lot of cool things. During the season, traveling mainly consists of three practices, homework, scouting, workouts, and two games. When we aren’t playing, we’re usually all crammed in a room doing homework together. After practice we have food delivered to the gym for dinner.
My favorite place I’ve visited with my team so far was probably Philadelphia because we went on a few history tours and got to run up the ‘Rocky’ steps. I also loved traveling to Kentucky because a lot of my friends and family were able to come.
Leader: You’ll be playing in your first PAC 12 Tournament next month. The Cardinal have a rich tradition of long tournament runs to conference and national titles. How might you help add to that?
Beaven: Being on a team like Stanford is truly amazing. When I first came in, I was so worried that I wouldn’t be able to meet the standards of my coaches and teammates and the rich Stanford volleyball legacy, but after the first day I knew that I was wrong. My team is so accepting and open to making mistakes.
Similar to high school and club, my team counts on me as a “hype man,” as my prep coaches would call it. I love to get my team going and keep the energy loose and competitive at the same time.
Leader: Stanford is considered one of the top academic institutions in the country. What’s been your experience academically so far and what major are you leaning toward?
Beaven: The academics at Stanford have definitely challenged me, but I’m honestly loving it. This place is so special. Some of my classmates are Olympic athletes and others are trying to cure cancer. There’s such a variety and competitive drive in the classroom that I love to be a part of. As of now I’m leaning towards majoring in Management Science & Engineering with law school being my goal.
Leader: Being so far away, what do you miss about home? When was the last time you were home and when will you be able to come back again?
Beaven: I definitely miss my family, friends and my dogs the most. Something else I am starting to miss as the weather changes is Missouri fall and the trees. The last time I was home was right before I reported to college on Aug. 6. I won’t be able to go home again until about a week before Christmas. Although it’s hard being so far from home, I see my parents almost every weekend; they fly out to most of my games.
Leader: What do you like most about the 8,000-acre Stanford campus, one of the largest in the country, and just the area in general?
Beaven: I am living on campus and probably will for the rest of my four years here. All Stanford students live on campus due to the school being in one of the richest neighborhoods in California. The campus is so beautiful and there is so much to do. My favorite thing to do on campus is lay out and study at the main quad. Off campus, I love going to the beach, hiking, or hanging out in downtown Palo Alto.
Leader: Any final words for your family and friends back home?
Beaven: I would just like to say thank you to my friends, my family, prep coaches, and the STL community for supporting me along my journey.