Taylor Persists at No. 11 in NAIA’s Latest National Poll

Volleyball | Wed, Nov. 9, 2022 at 11:45 AM
| by Jake Chipka

NAIA Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top-25 Poll

KANSAS CITY – The NAIA released its final Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top-25 Poll of the 2022 Regular Season on Wednesday, a poll in which Taylor (28-5) lingered at the No. 11 rank in the nation.

Taylor has won nine matches in a row, four of which have occurred since the last poll was released on October 26, including three sweeps and a five-set win over No. 21 Marian on the road.

Throughout the last four matches of play, a trio of Trojans have energized the Taylor hitting brigade, including junior outside hitter, Anna Frey, who has led since October 26 with 3.14 kills-per-set. Alongside her mark of 3.14 kills, Frey has also posted 2.21 digs and 0.71 blocks-per-set throughout TU’s last four matches.

Meanwhile, Ryan Czerniak and Arlanda Faulkner have also struck with reckless abandon in the last two weeks, the lefty averaging 3.07 kills-per-set while Faulkner’s explosive right arm has posted a mark of 2.58 kills-per-set.

Senior setter, Kacy Bragg, has been dynamic as ever, averaging an impressive 11.50 assists-per-set en route to Taylor’s most-recent four wins.

McKaylah Flagle, the reigning Crossroads League Defender of the Week, has been outstanding on defense, solidifying the Trojan backline with an average of 4.79 digs-per-set. Senior, Nikki Parrett, has contributed a solid defensive presence as well, as she has posted the team’s second-best mark of 2.33 digs-per-set since the NAIA’s previous poll.

All the while, Grace Ieremia, has continued in her craft of stuffing attacks at the net, totaling an average of 1.64 blocks-per-set in Taylor’s last four matches. Ieremia continues to share the league lead with a season average of 1.31 blocks-per-set, which is good enough for a share of fourth in the entire nation.

Speaking of league leaders, Czerniak has maintained her firm grasp of the top hitting percentage in both the Crossroads League and the NAIA with a mark of .409. Bragg leads the league with a season-average of 11.00 assists-per-set, which is good for sixth in the nation. And Parrett owns the second-best mark in the league with a season average of 0.40 aces-per-set.

As a team, Taylor ranks among the nation’s top-10 in kills, hitting percentage, blocks, and assists, though the Trojans remain just on the outside of the top-10 national rankings.

No. 11 Taylor (28-5) will look to reinforce its reputation…