University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Spotlight: Taylor Morgan
8/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Taylor Morgan is a middle blocker from Blaine, Minnesota. Morgan played high school volleyball at Blaine and also at the Kokoro Volleyball Club and was ranked as the 89th recruit in the national recruiting class. As a senior, Morgan was the Bengals team captain and followed her volleyball season competing in track. Morgan is the daugther of Matt and Jennifer Bingle. No stranger to the University of Minnesota, her father, Matt, is the director of Golden Gopher women's track & field and cross country. Here's a short question/answer session with Taylor.
Gophersports.com: You're from Blaine and you've been around the U of M your whole life, but what is it like to finally be able to play here?
Taylor Morgan: Honestly, it's like a dream come true. I have hoped and prayed and dreamed of this moment for my whole life and it feels really good to know it's actually here.
GS: Your dad, Matt Bingle, is the track & field/cross-country coach here, but how has it been making your own experiences?
TM: It feels good. It kind of makes me feel like I have a sense of responsibility. I have to represent my family well in what I do here on campus and on the court. It makes me feel good to know that I have someone always looking out for me.
GS: With a family full of runners, how did you decide on playing volleyball?
TM: My mom was a college track athlete and my dad ran track in college too. I did track in high school and I loved volleyball and track equally the same, but I couldn't live without volleyball. I could live a little bit without track.
GS: Did you know a lot of the players before coming here?
TM: Actually I played against a lot of them. I played against Sarah (Wilhite) my sophomore year of high school at the state semifinals. I thought she was amazing and I was just honored to play against her. When I found out she was coming to the U of M, I was even more ecstatic. I played against the Tapp sisters my freshman year at a tournament. I remember seeing them and saying "Oh my gosh, those are the Tapp sisters," thinking that they were the best players, and now I'm playing with them. It's cool to know that I knew some of them.
GS: What are you most excited about?
TM: Honestly, just to say that I'm a Minnesota Gopher volleyball player. That's really what I've always dreamed of being able to say "I'm a Gopher." Now I can actually say "I'm a Gopher volleyball player." It's more legit.
