When asked about her mindset going into the Texas volleyball game against Stanford on Sept. 7, freshman middle blocker Taylor Harvey simply stated, “to win.”
This competitive mindset came as no surprise — she had extra motivation to win with her older sister, Jordyn Harvey, a Stanford junior opposite hitter, on the other side of the net. They had played together their entire lives, but this matchup marked the first time they competed against each other on opposing teams.
“It was crazy,” Harvey said. “We were texting each other the night before, but then once the game day hit, it was just rivalry.”
Though their familial love was put on pause when the siblings faced off at the Moody Center, after Texas took Stanford in a 3-2 win, the two grabbed dinner afterward and spent some quality time together.
The competitive fire and athleticism run deep in the Harvey family. Their father, Tony Harvey, was a former collegiate basketball player at Utah and was their basketball coach in high school. Because of this, he was able to help his daughters succeed in basketball in high school, with Taylor Harvey becoming a three-time 5A MVP and state champion.
“My dad was not only my coach, but also a really good father,” Harvey said. “Even if he doesn’t know volleyball, he still knows sports and how the team dynamic works. He’s a college athlete also, so he knows how all this college stuff works.”
The help Harvey has received navigating playing sports at a collegiate level from her family has transitioned in her ability to perform at Texas, where she has many career and personal aspirations.
“My goals are really just to figure out who I am as a person,” Harvey said. “Volleyball-wise, to expand me as a ball player to see how far I can get, but then also me as a person … finding my cliques and who I hang out with, and what I like to do.”
As the No. 2 Texas volleyball continues its impressive 14-0 undefeated streak, freshmen on the team are making their presence known in a big way, including Harvey, who has played in 11 of the past 14 games.
“Our goal is to be put in stressful situations and be tested in that,” Texas volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott said.
Being put into stressful situations is something Harvey is no stranger to. Growing up, Harvey constantly fought for her position against older players, which has prepared her to play at the elite level that is expected from players at Texas.
“I’ve always been the youngest. I always played up,” Harvey said. “So I think that really built me, as a strong person.”
Rather than letting pressure consume her, Harvey stresses the importance of not comparing herself to others. Harvey uses creative outlets like painting and drawing to help her decompress from the stress and physical exertion that come with being a student-athlete.
Beyond the competition and accolades, Harvey’s love for volleyball and sports in general shines through. Having played both volleyball and basketball throughout middle school and high school, Harvey has had the opportunity to grow up alongside playing the sports.
“I learned a lot of life lessons through it,” Harvey said.
As Harvey continues to grow both on and off the court, her blend of competitiveness, family support, personal reflection, and love for the game promises a bright future ahead—both as a standout player and as a young person finding her path in college and beyond.
