By: Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech volleyball team is proud to announce another future Golden Eagle to its squad: Taylor Houck.
"Taylor is fiercely competitive," head coach Dave Zelenock remarked about the addition of Houck to next year's team. "She has a big arm and great blocking instincts which will be a huge asset on either pin. Taylor's work ethic is insane and will raise the level in our gym just by being there. We expect her to compete for time on the right side and possibly the left."
Houck will come to Tech from Fletcher, N.C. She attended West Henderson High School where she competed in volleyball, basketball, softball and track & field.
When asked what drew her to choose Tennessee Tech, Houck said:
"I will be honest, before Coach Zelenock reached out to me I had never hear of Tennessee Tech University. My first thought was 'Gosh, who is this?' Zelenock came up with a great opening email that made me automatically interested in the program. The crazy fact is, when I happened to see assistant coach Joyner across the court scouting another game, I thought to myself, 'I really like her jacket and those colors. What school is she coaching for?' I am drawn to pretty colors and my favorite basketball team growing up has always been the Lakers, which shares their colors with TTU. Coincidence? Maybe, so. But after taking a visit to TTU I kind of just got this feeling. Coach Zelenock and Joyner really helped in my decision to commit. Talking to other coaches and visiting other schools was nothing like what it was with Coach Zelenock. He is a great coach, but also a great guy as well and from what I saw a great father, and I needed that in a coach. I am a coachable athlete and when the ball is on the court that is something I can take care of myself. What I needed was a coach that I could feel okay to have a conversation with outside of volleyball on any given day, whatever it may be about, whenever it may happen. Someone who understood there is a life outside of volleyball, and I felt a great sense of comfort and family while at Tech. I have full confidence that TTU will get me where my life is supposed to take me, and it is also about the people you have in your life on the journey, and Coach Zelenock and Joyner really fit."
While a participant of the volleyball team at West Henderson, Houck was a member of the all-conference and all-area teams as well as selected to the Under Armor watch list. Taylor averaged 12 kills, 3 blocks, and 10 digs per match while at West Henderson. She led her team to three conference championships, one regional championship and was a one-time State participant in volleyball.
Taylor Brooke Houck is the daughter of Dale Houck and Rhonda Banks. She was born June 12, 1998, and is undecided in what she will major in during her time at Tech.
