Taylor hoping to end on high note
Brock volleyball player Mitch Taylor is shown in action. STEPHEN LEITHWOOD PHOTO.
Seniors night for the Brock men’s volleyball team isn’t turning out the way Mitch Taylor hoped it might.
When the Badgers square off against Waterloo Friday at 8 p.m. at the Bob Davis Gymnasium, the 21-year-old St. Catharines native will be merely a spectator. Taking part in a recent practice, Taylor landed on a teammate’s foot and sprained his ankle. He’s hoping to back in the next two weeks
“It’s super tough,” the Eden alumnus said. “I was super excited to get a chance to play and I have nine or 10 people coming out. But it will be nice to see the guys win and continue to push for the playoffs.”
The 6-foot-2 left side is having a hard time believing his volleyball career is coming to a conclusion.
“It has gone really quick,” he said. “I think this is my 12th year of playing volleyball — club and university — and it’s insane it’s over now.”
Taylor arrived at Brock the year the program was restarted and he was the third person recruited for the team.
Brock head coach Matt Ragogna has been along for a large portion of Taylor’s volleyball journey. Ragogna coached him for two years with the Niagara Rapids, starting when Taylor was 15. Taylor’s first year at Brock, Ragogna was team captain. Ragogna was then an assistant coach for two years at Brock before taking over as head coach this season.
“I love having him around,” Taylor said. “He is a great friend of mine and a great coach. I respect him a lot.”
The feeling is mutual.
“Mitch is the definition of the model varsity student/athlete,” Ragogna said. “The effort he exhibits on the court matches exactly how he goes about in his every day life. He pushes himself, others around him, and is always open to conversations to make everyone around him better.”
Ragogna will miss him.
“He was someone that I could easily rely on to carry out responsibilities and roles within the squad.”
Taylor has played in more than 50 games during his career at Brock and filled in at multiple positions during his four years.
“I can only speak to how bright the future is for this young man,” Ragogna said. “He is the example of someone who utilized his varsity experience and will do great things in his life. It was an honour to be part of his life for a good portion of his volleyball career, and I look forward to calling him and alumni, family, and friend for the years ahead.”
Taylor, who is majoring in accounting and will graduate in January 2021, plans to start a masters degree at Brock. He doesn’t expect to have the time to play volleyball.
“It will be nice to pass the torch and maybe help out and coach a little bit.”
Among the highlights of his career were getting to start at setter last season and a game last season where he came in and served and played in the back row against Ryerson.
“I think we were down 7-11 in the fifth set and after I was done serving, it was 13-11 for us and we ended up winning that game,” he said. “It was our third or fourth win in a row that year.”
Taylor is still hopeful that his career highlight will come this season. Brock has never made the playoffs during his time in a Badgers uniform but they have a good chance to do so this year.
“It would be very nice to make the playoffs,” he said.
Regardless of how his athletic career concludes, Taylor leaves Book a much different person than when he arrived.
“I am more determined to get stuff done,” he said. “Playing a varsity sport really teaches you self-confidence, to go for what you want and to put the effort and work in to get it done. You see the results after putting in hours and hours and hours.”
