Zev Black is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Sunrise Mountain High School for AZPreps365.com

Taryn Davis always knew that volleyball was going to be her sport.

She played soccer and softball when she was younger, but neither of those stuck. Her mother, Tracy V-Davis, remembers watching her daughter “do ballerina moves on the soccer field” instead of helping her team score. She knew that soccer wasn’t in Taryn’s future.

Taryn decided to move on from these other sports and fully focus on volleyball. Her career took off.

Taryn is grateful for her family, who she says supported her more than anyone. She said they have “pretty much given up everything” for her endeavors.

“We’ve never missed a game,” Tracy said. “We’re always there. We’re always excited to do some really cool things for team bonding. I’ve been the team mom, traveling and making the seasons as fun as possible for parents, players, and for [Taryn]. It’s just been part of our life.”

Sophie, Taryn’s older sister, was her biggest inspiration. Friendly competition between the two began on the street when they were young. The two siblings then played on the same team for Taryn’s first year of club in fourth grade.

“We chose as parents for convenience to have them play together to make the schedules easier,” said Tracy. “Taryn always was privileged to play two years up… I think that just gave her an edge up. She was always trying to be as good as the older kids.”

Not only was Taryn good enough to play up, but she also had the tenacity to do so.

“Taryn always puts in 150%,” said Tracy. “There’s never a time that she does anything less than that.”

Her high school coach, Brandi Jans, agrees. She has seen this mentality ever since the two met. Although Taryn didn’t make the varsity team as a freshman, she continued to work hard. She made the team in her sophomore year and is now a captain. Jans called Taryn the quarterback of the team; on the court, Taryn calls the shots.

“She had the drive and I knew that as a freshman when she was here,” Jans said. “She’s played for me for the past three years on varsity but [I saw] her as a freshman and [saw] the potential she had. She was behind some strong setters but I watched her progress.”

On-court play is just as important to Jans as in-class success.

“At the beginning of the year, I always stress to the girls that their number one priority is obviously their academics,” Jans said. “They have to carry themselves as a student athlete by making sure their grades are up to date and up to par with what should be happening and that they’re eligible to play. The biggest thing is representing volleyball. You’re a student athlete. You’re representing volleyball on campus, making the right decisions, being appropriate, acting appropriately, behaving appropriately, and making sure that you’re carrying yourself as a varsity athlete and just in general as a student of this program.”

Taryn has found being a student athlete beneficial. She thinks that everyone should be a student athlete, saying that it helps students get more involved with their school.

“I think it’s really important,” said Taryn. “It’s taught me a lot of life lessons. Being able to balance school with volleyball has taught me about responsibility and how to be organized.”

It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Taryn, however. Her dream almost ended before she even got to Sunrise Mountain High School. During her 14’s year, Taryn’s club coach told her that she was never going to be able to play Division 1 volleyball. Taryn said she almost quit right then, but didn’t.

“I was like ‘something doesn’t feel right so I’ll just prove her wrong’ and I ended up going Division 1 volleyball anyways,” Taryn said. “That was one of the biggest points in my career that switched my mentality.”

Tracy recalls how, at a tournament in Las Vegas, the volleyball coach from the University of Arizona approached Taryn’s coach at the time to inquire about her future in volleyball, saying that he would love to have her on his roster.

Taryn is now preparing to play volleyball at the United State Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Choosing the prestigious program was an easy decision for her once she visited the campus.

“It was always in the back of my head because all three of my grandparents have served,” said Taryn. “I went on my visit and absolutely fell in love with the environment and the campus. It’s in Colorado Springs which is beautiful. It just felt right.”

Taryn is looking forward to the challenge of a military academy.

“It’s going to be a lot harder,” said Taryn. “Everything is going to be a lot sterner, but I’m excited for it.”

After college, Taryn said that she wants to go into coaching.

“I love the game too much to give it up forever,” Taryn said.