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Taylor Virtue Promoted to Head Volleyball Coach
4/3/2023 4:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A familiar face takes over the Brown University volleyball program as Taylor Virtue was named the sixth head coach in program history. Virtue spent the previous two seasons as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator and was vital in Brown's Ivy League championship in 2021 and Ivy Tournament title appearance in 2022.
"After a thorough national search, Taylor emerged as the best person to lead our volleyball program forward," said Chancellor Samuel M. Mencoff '78 Vice President for Athletics and Recreation M. Grace Calhoun '92, Ph.D. "The search reinforced that Taylor is a rising star and well-equipped to build on the foundation established the past two seasons. Taylor was pivotal in volleyball's run in 2021 and 2022, and we look forward to continuing to compete for conference championships under her leadership."
"I am incredibly humbled and honored to have the chance to lead the exceptional women of the Brown Volleyball Program. I want to thank Dr. Grace Calhoun and the rest of the hiring committee for their confidence in me. I love this program and university deeply, something special happens when you work at a place where your values are aligned," said Virtue. "Having the opportunity to lead this program, which I've been fortunate enough to be a part of for the past two seasons, is a dream come true. I'm incredibly excited about the future of Brown Volleyball."
The historic 2021 campaign featured a 20-win season for the first time since 1998 and the first Ivy League Championship since 2001. The program went 20-6 overall and 13-1 in Ivy play, the most wins in conference action ever. The 2022 team advanced to the inaugural Ivy League Volleyball Tournament and went 10-4 in league play.
Virtue worked primarily with passers and defense. Setter Cierra Jenkins was named 2021 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, AVCA East All-Region, unanimous First Team All-Ivy, and Ivy League Player of the Year. Victoria Vo was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.
2022 AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention Beau Vanderlaan led the league in conference play in blocks per set, and Sophia Miller set a career-high in blocks. Both were selected First Team All-Ivy for consecutive seasons.
Brown led the Ivy in blocks in 2022, collecting 66 more blocks than any other conference team, after finishing the 2021 season tops in the league in blocks and second in assists.
Virtue arrived at Brown after serving as an assistant coach at Youngstown State University in 2020 and as an assistant coach at Bucknell University during the 2019 season. Virtue held responsibilities with serve receive, defense, and setting as well as practice planning, recruiting, scouting, and team operations.
Before Bucknell, Virtue worked as an assistant coach at Saint Martin's University during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, helping the team set a school record for wins in 2017.
From 2015-17, Virtue served as a graduate assistant at Springfield College, working with both the women's and men's programs. She helped the women's team reach the sweet 16 round of the NCAA Championship in both 2015 and 2016 and mentored the 2016 AVCA New England Region Freshman of the Year. On the men's side, she aided the team in winning the 2017 NCAA national title.
A 2015 graduate of Northwest Nazarene University, Virtue earned a bachelor's degree in education/kinesiology & health. She gained a master's degree from Springfield in 2017 in advanced-level coaching. Taylor is married to Jacob and the couple resides in Providence with their dog Millie.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT TAYLOR VIRTUE
"Coach Taylor was instrumental in transforming our program into an Ivy championship contending team these past two years," said former Brown Volleyball head coach Ahen Kim. "She has a great eye for our sport and is equally great at teaching volleyball and life. Her ability to build meaningful relationships with student-athletes and passion to empower young power makes Coach Taylor a natural leader and will represent Brown University well."
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the lifeblood of the athletics program and exists to enhance the student-athlete experience through philanthropic support from alumni, parents, fans, and friends. A gift through the Sports Foundation immediately impacts today's Brown Bears and helps them to be their best in the classroom, in competition, and most notably in the community. To learn more about supporting the Bears, please click here.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on Twitter, @BrownU_Bears on Instagram, like BrownUBears on Facebook, and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
"After a thorough national search, Taylor emerged as the best person to lead our volleyball program forward," said Chancellor Samuel M. Mencoff '78 Vice President for Athletics and Recreation M. Grace Calhoun '92, Ph.D. "The search reinforced that Taylor is a rising star and well-equipped to build on the foundation established the past two seasons. Taylor was pivotal in volleyball's run in 2021 and 2022, and we look forward to continuing to compete for conference championships under her leadership."
"I am incredibly humbled and honored to have the chance to lead the exceptional women of the Brown Volleyball Program. I want to thank Dr. Grace Calhoun and the rest of the hiring committee for their confidence in me. I love this program and university deeply, something special happens when you work at a place where your values are aligned," said Virtue. "Having the opportunity to lead this program, which I've been fortunate enough to be a part of for the past two seasons, is a dream come true. I'm incredibly excited about the future of Brown Volleyball."
The historic 2021 campaign featured a 20-win season for the first time since 1998 and the first Ivy League Championship since 2001. The program went 20-6 overall and 13-1 in Ivy play, the most wins in conference action ever. The 2022 team advanced to the inaugural Ivy League Volleyball Tournament and went 10-4 in league play.
Virtue worked primarily with passers and defense. Setter Cierra Jenkins was named 2021 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, AVCA East All-Region, unanimous First Team All-Ivy, and Ivy League Player of the Year. Victoria Vo was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.
2022 AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention Beau Vanderlaan led the league in conference play in blocks per set, and Sophia Miller set a career-high in blocks. Both were selected First Team All-Ivy for consecutive seasons.
Brown led the Ivy in blocks in 2022, collecting 66 more blocks than any other conference team, after finishing the 2021 season tops in the league in blocks and second in assists.
Virtue arrived at Brown after serving as an assistant coach at Youngstown State University in 2020 and as an assistant coach at Bucknell University during the 2019 season. Virtue held responsibilities with serve receive, defense, and setting as well as practice planning, recruiting, scouting, and team operations.
Before Bucknell, Virtue worked as an assistant coach at Saint Martin's University during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, helping the team set a school record for wins in 2017.
From 2015-17, Virtue served as a graduate assistant at Springfield College, working with both the women's and men's programs. She helped the women's team reach the sweet 16 round of the NCAA Championship in both 2015 and 2016 and mentored the 2016 AVCA New England Region Freshman of the Year. On the men's side, she aided the team in winning the 2017 NCAA national title.
A 2015 graduate of Northwest Nazarene University, Virtue earned a bachelor's degree in education/kinesiology & health. She gained a master's degree from Springfield in 2017 in advanced-level coaching. Taylor is married to Jacob and the couple resides in Providence with their dog Millie.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT TAYLOR VIRTUE
"Coach Taylor was instrumental in transforming our program into an Ivy championship contending team these past two years," said former Brown Volleyball head coach Ahen Kim. "She has a great eye for our sport and is equally great at teaching volleyball and life. Her ability to build meaningful relationships with student-athletes and passion to empower young power makes Coach Taylor a natural leader and will represent Brown University well."
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the lifeblood of the athletics program and exists to enhance the student-athlete experience through philanthropic support from alumni, parents, fans, and friends. A gift through the Sports Foundation immediately impacts today's Brown Bears and helps them to be their best in the classroom, in competition, and most notably in the community. To learn more about supporting the Bears, please click here.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on Twitter, @BrownU_Bears on Instagram, like BrownUBears on Facebook, and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
Players Mentioned
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