Taryn Cates '18 Recruiting Profile

Committed! As of February 5th, 2018, I’m verbally committed to Houston Baptist University! I am so pumped about being part of their program!

I am excited about playing volleyball in college.  A tough day of volleyball is better than doing anything else.  When I am out on the court, I'm always trying to figure out how I can outplay the other team.  I am not worried about the hard work it takes to play in college because I know that whereever I go, I'm going to work hard to contribute to the team on and off the court.  I am a leader in volleyball, in school, and in the classroom.  I am currently the president of my junior class, and I'm treasurer of student council.  I am also currently ranked 6th in my class.  I used to be 1st, and I was pretty upset that because of volleyball and student council, I could not take as many honors classes as other kids to keep my GPA up to be 1st.  However, I know that volleyball and student council are very important to me, and I was not willing to give them up.  I work to be the best at whatever I do.  

    My high school coach said I am a perfectionist, which is really not true at all.  I am not afraid of hard work, but I have a strong belief that if I am giving my 100%, then all things will work out as they should.  As a Christian, I want to use all my talents to the best of my ability.  If I am doing that, then I believe everything will work out.

    I feel like I am a good team player because when the team is down,  I am very encouraging.  When we are up, and especially when I get a kill, I have been compared to Tiger Woods.  I really get very excited on the court on a good play!  I know that in college I will be growing every year as a player.  I will work hard each season to improve because I love the sport so much.  I feel like I still have lots of growing to do in volleyball, and getting in to a strong college volleyball program will help me reach those goals. 

    As far as positions on the volleyball court, I have played them all.  In junior high, I was middle,  and I got the winning 2 points in our city championship on solo blocks!  In club, I have played setter, right side, libero, and outside.  In high school, I have played right side, outside, and all around.  Next year, it seems that I will be playing all around again and left side on the front row.  I really don't care where I play on the court as long as I am playing.  I know that wherever I go for college, I will work hard so that I am able to contribute on the court even my freshman year. 

    Academically, I plan on using my undergraduate time to study pre-med classes.  I plan on going to medical school after college and studying to be either a radiologist or an anesthesiologist.  I am also interested in engineering.  I have taken 3 years of engineering classes in high school, and that may be a field that I pursue in college.  

    I have been told I am very coachable, have strong court IQ, and am a good reactive player.  I think my good attitude and strong work ethic along with those other skills will help me be a great player on any college volleyball team.