By Alex Franco

Sports Editor

On Monday, Dec. 3, the NAIA named Taylor Degraaf and fellow teammate to the NAIA All-America Team. At the NAIA over the weekend Degraff,  finished fourth in the nation with 629 kills. This is Degraff’s second All-American honor. We spoke with her before she and the Lady Cougars went to the conference.

Q: How long has volleyball been a part of your life?

A: It started in seventh grade; I tried out for my middle school’s team but didn’t make it. But I tried out again and made it my eighth grade year and played all through high school.

Q: What would you say attributes most to your success in volleyball thus far?

A: Definitely my coaches who have pushed me and motivated me through the years, and my dad who played volleyball at the same high school and was coached by the same coach as me. My family’s support also motivates me; they traveled to see me play in North Dakota for the conference tournament.

Q: Any highlights from this year that stick out in your mind?

A: Our first home game against La Sierra was a turning point in the season for us; we were playing a lot of up and down volleyball and had a meeting before the game to turn our season around that night. Also us sweeping the conference tournament on our way to another title was a definite highlight.

Q: How much motivation did last year’s early exit in the NAIA tournament give you coming into this season?

A: It gave us so much motivation, especially at this year’s NAIA opener against vanguard, because we didn’t want that same feeling we had last year when we lost in the opener.